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Chemistry induced by the impacts: Observations

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  02 August 2016

Emmanuel Lellouch
Emmanuel Lellouch*
Affiliation:
Observatoire de Paris, 92195 Meudon, France

Abstract

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This paper reviews spectroscopic measurements relevant to the chemical modifications of Jupiter's atmosphere induced by the Shoemaker-Levy 9 impacts. Such observations have been successful at all wavelength ranges from the UV to the centimeter. At the date this paper is written, newly detected or enhanced molecular species resulting from the impacts include H2O, CO, S2, CS2, CS, OCS, NH3, HCN and C2H4. There is also a tentative detection of enhanced PH3 and a controversial detection of H2S. All new and enhanced species were detected in Jupiter's stratosphere. With the exception of NH3 (and perhaps H2S and PH3), apparently present down to the 10-50 mbar level, the minor species are seen at pressures lower than 1 mbar or less, consistent with a formation during the plume splashback at 1-100 microbar. NH3 may result from upwelling associated with vertical mixing generated by the impacts. The main oxygen species is apparently CO, with a total mass of a few 1014 g for the largest impacts, consistent with that available in 400-700 m radius fragments. The observed O/S ratio is reasonably consistent with cometary abundances, but the O/N ratio (inferred from CO/HCN) is much larger, suggesting that another N species was formed but remained undetected, presumably N2. The time evolution of NH3, S2, CS2 shows evidence for photochemical activity taking place during and after the impact week.

Type
Research Article
Information
International Astronomical Union Colloquium , Volume 156: The Collision of Comet Shoemaker-Levy 9 and Jupiter , May 1996 , pp. 213 - 242
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 1996

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