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Morphological Variations of the 3-micron Northern Aurorae of Jupiter

Presentation #415.03 in the session Giant Planet Atmospheres (iPosters).

Published onOct 20, 2022
Morphological Variations of the 3-micron Northern Aurorae of Jupiter

We have obtained 3.3–3.4 μm spectral images of the north polar regions of Jupiter with Gemini/GNIRS covering a latitudinal range from ~50oN to pole on July 7, August 27, and October 7, 2020 (UT). Combining these spectral images and previously obtained similar but limited images with the same instrument in 2013 (Kim et al., 2015), and 2018 (Kim et al., 2020), we examine spatial variations of CH4, C2H6, and H3+ emissions. We find significant intensity variations of CH4, C2H6, and H3+ bright spots and noticeable shifts for the bright spots in the auroral regions during the same period. We deduce auroral electron energies from the emission variations of these species on and within the main oval considering penetration depths of the auroral electrons down to hydrocarbon layers. From the relatively weak CH4 and C2H6 emissions on the H3+ main oval compared with those within the oval, we conclude the energies of the majority of electrons bombarding on the oval are weaker than those within the oval. We also find lack of correlations between the auroral emission intensities and solar wind parameters for the years of 2013, 2018, and 2020.

References

Kim, S.J., Sim, C.K., Jin, H., Geballe, T.R., Yung, Y.L, Miller, S., Kim, Y.H. 2015. Icarus, 257, 217.

Kim, S.J., et al. 2020. Icarus, 348, 113852.

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