Stratospheric aerosols and C<sub>6</sub>H<sub>6</sub> in Jupiter’s south polar region from JWST/MIRI observations

Context. The polar atmosphere of Jupiter is significantly affected by auroral activity, which can induce both thermal and chemical differences compared to the rest of the atmosphere. In particular, auroral activity enhances the production of various hydrocarbons, including benzene. Benzene could be a potential precursor to the formation of the stratospheric hazes. Aims. We investigated the spatial distribution of the benzene abundance across latitudes ranging from 50°S to 81°S and 17°S to 25°S. Additionally, we examined the chemical origin of polar aerosols and their latitudinal distribution. Methods. We employed James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) Mid InfraRed Instrument (MIRI) observations to measure the benzene abundance based on its emission at 674 cm −1 . Additionally, we examined the spectral dependence of the aerosol opacity within the 680–760 and 1380–1500 cm −1 spectral ranges, and mapped their distribution from 80°S–50°S. Results. At latitudes lower than 60°S, benzene is found to be up to ten times more abundant compared to lower latitudes. This enhancement of C 6 H 6 is well mixed longitudinally and not particularly concentrated inside the auroral oval. Photochemical models predict a decrease in the abundance as we approach the mid latitudes, but fail at polar latitudes as they do not include ion-neutral chemistry. Moreover, we find that the southern polar atmosphere is enriched with aerosols at ~10 mbar. The optical depth of the aerosols increases at latitudes poleward of ~60°S, similar to the enhancement of C 6 H 6 . These aerosols have spectral features similar to the aerosols of Titan and Saturn, and the mass loading is of ~1.2 ± 0.2 × 10 −4 g cm −2 . Finally, we quantified the impact of these aerosols on the retrieved temperature structure, causing a decrease in the temperature at pressure levels deeper than 10 mbar. Conclusions. We find that the auroral precipitation produces abundant stratospheric aerosols, which must play an important role in the chemistry and dynamics of the planet.

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Publication Details

Journal
Astronomy and Astrophysics
Published
2024-09-20
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1051/0004-6361/202451453
Citations
1
Primary Topic
Astro and Planetary Science
Type
article
Field-Weighted Citation Impact
0.33

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article

Stratospheric aerosols and C6H6 in Jupiter’s south polar region from JWST/MIRI observations

M. López‐Puertas, Oliver King, Sandrine Vinatier, Heidi B. Hammel et al.
1 citations
Astronomy and Astrophysics
Astro and Planetary Science
0.33
article

Stratospheric aerosols and C6H6 in Jupiter’s south polar region from JWST/MIRI observations

M. López‐Puertas, Oliver King, Sandrine Vinatier, Heidi B. Hammel, R. Hueso, Vincent Hue, Stefanie N. Milam, Thierry Fouchet, Glenn S. Orton, Leigh N. Fletcher, Pablo Rodríguez‐Ovalle, Sandrine Guerlet, T. Cavalié, Jake Harkett, Imke de Pater, E. Lellouch, Michael T. Roman
article en
1 citations

Abstract

Context. The polar atmosphere of Jupiter is significantly affected by auroral activity, which can induce both thermal and chemical differences compared to the rest of the atmosphere. In particular, auroral activity enhances the production of various hydrocarbons, including benzene. Benzene could be a potential precursor to the formation of the stratospheric hazes. Aims. We investigated the spatial distribution of the benzene abundance across latitudes ranging from 50°S to 81°S and 17°S to 25°S. Additionally, we examined the chemical origin of polar aerosols and their latitudinal distribution. Methods. We employed James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) Mid InfraRed Instrument (MIRI) observations to measure the benzene abundance based on its emission at 674 cm −1 . Additionally, we examined the spectral dependence of the aerosol opacity within the 680–760 and 1380–1500 cm −1 spectral ranges, and mapped their distribution from 80°S–50°S. Results. At latitudes lower than 60°S, benzene is found to be up to ten times more abundant compared to lower latitudes. This enhancement of C 6 H 6 is well mixed longitudinally and not particularly concentrated inside the auroral oval. Photochemical models predict a decrease in the abundance as we approach the mid latitudes, but fail at polar latitudes as they do not include ion-neutral chemistry. Moreover, we find that the southern polar atmosphere is enriched with aerosols at ~10 mbar. The optical depth of the aerosols increases at latitudes poleward of ~60°S, similar to the enhancement of C 6 H 6 . These aerosols have spectral features similar to the aerosols of Titan and Saturn, and the mass loading is of ~1.2 ± 0.2 × 10 −4 g cm −2 . Finally, we quantified the impact of these aerosols on the retrieved temperature structure, causing a decrease in the temperature at pressure levels deeper than 10 mbar. Conclusions. We find that the auroral precipitation produces abundant stratospheric aerosols, which must play an important role in the chemistry and dynamics of the planet.

Astronomy and AstrophysicsVol. 691
Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (FR), Planetary Science Institute (US), Goddard Space Flight Center (US), Association of Universities for Research in Astronomy (US), Jet Propulsion Laboratory (US), Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas (ES), École Polytechnique (FR), Université de Bordeaux (FR), University of Leicester (GB), University of the Basque Country (ES), Université de Versailles Saint-Quentin-en-Yvelines (FR), Université Paris Cité (FR), Aix-Marseille Université (FR), Université Paris Sciences et Lettres (FR), Observatoire de Paris (FR), Universities Research Association (US), École Normale Supérieure - PSL (FR), Sorbonne Université (FR), Laboratoire de Météorologie Dynamique (FR), Laboratoire d’Astrophysique de Marseille (FR), Laboratoire d'Astrophysique de Bordeaux (FR), Institut Pierre-Simon Laplace (FR), Château Gombert (FR), Laboratoire d’études spatiales et d’instrumentation en astrophysique (FR), Instituto de Astrofísica de Andalucía (ES), University of California, Berkeley (US)
National Aeronautics and Space Administration, California Institute of Technology, Space Telescope Science Institute, Centre National d’Etudes Spatiales, Eusko Jaurlaritza, Jet Propulsion Laboratory, Science and Technology Facilities Council, Agencia Estatal de Investigación
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