Jupiter temperature
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Jupiter's Temperature: An In-Depth Analysis
Effective Temperature of Jupiter
The effective temperature of Jupiter, as measured by the Pioneer 10 and Pioneer 11 spacecraft, is approximately 125 ± 3 K. This value is derived from infrared radiometer data collected over a wide range of emission angles, indicating a significant thermal emission from the planet1. The ratio of Jupiter's thermal emission to the solar energy it absorbs is about 1.9 ± 0.2, which aligns closely with earth-based estimates1.
Temperature Profiles in Different Atmospheric Layers
Troposphere
In the troposphere, temperature measurements at the 1 bar pressure level show variations depending on the latitude. For instance, the temperature at 1 bar in the South Equatorial Belt (SEB) is around 170 K, while in the South Tropical Zone (STrZ), it is approximately 155 K, assuming pure gaseous absorption2. These values are consistent with other radiative-equilibrium models and data from different wavelengths2. Additionally, the Voyager radio occultation measurements suggest that the temperature at the 1 bar level can vary spatially by up to 7 K between 7°N and 12°S, with corrected temperatures being slightly higher than previously published values4.
Upper Troposphere
High-resolution images taken between 1996 and 1997 reveal that the upper tropospheric temperatures at pressures of 100 and 400 mbar exhibit significant longitudinal variations and wave features. These thermal structures are consistent with convectively generated Rossby waves propagating from the lower to the upper atmosphere5.
Stratosphere
The stratospheric temperatures of Jupiter's high latitudes, particularly in the auroral regions, show independent evolution over time. For example, between 2014 and 2016, the temperature at 1 mbar in the southern auroral region increased by 11.1 ± 5.2 K, while the northern auroral region exhibited negligible net change3. This temperature increase in the southern auroral region may be linked to higher-energy charged particle precipitation and increased solar dynamical pressure3.
Upper Atmosphere
Data from the Galileo Probe indicate that temperatures in Jupiter's upper atmosphere rise significantly from 109 K at the 175-millibar level to about 900 ± 40 K at 1 nanobar. This increase is consistent with Voyager remote sensing data and suggests that wave energy dissipation is a probable source of upper atmosphere heating6.
Far-Infrared and Submillimeter Observations
Measurements of Jupiter's brightness temperatures in the far-infrared and submillimeter range (35 to 1000 µm) yield an effective temperature of 126.8 ± 4.5 K. The temperature spectrum shows a strong peak around 350 µm, followed by a deep valley between 450 and 500 µm. These features are qualitatively reproduced by model atmospheres, although the fit is not exact9.
Conclusion
Jupiter's temperature structure is complex and varies significantly across different atmospheric layers and regions. The effective temperature is around 125 K, with notable variations in the troposphere and stratosphere. The upper atmosphere experiences significant heating, likely due to wave energy dissipation. These findings are crucial for understanding Jupiter's atmospheric dynamics and composition.
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