Event Details

Space and Planetary Physics seminar

Abstract: Ever since H₃⁺ emissions were first observed from Jupiter in 1989, near-infrared observations have provided a tool with which to probe the physical conditions of the ionosphere of the giant planets (Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, and Neptune), such as temperature, ion density, and radiative cooling rates. These parameters in turn track the heating and the dynamics of the upper atmosphere. As telescopes and instrumentations have improved over the decades, we are beginning to sample regions away from the bright aurorae. The low latitude ionosphere of these planets have shown intriguing and surprising features, for example, at Jupiter, the H₃⁺ emission is closely aligned with features in the magnetic field, and significant heating has been observed in the upper atmosphere above the Great Red Spot. At Saturn, the ionosphere exhibit bands where charged material fall in from the rings and alter the chemistry of the upper atmosphere. At Uranus, H₃⁺ observations have revealed that the ionosphere is cooling over time-scales of several decades, likely linked to the unique geometry of the planet. Our understanding of Neptune is significantly more hazy, where H₃⁺ remains undetected. Finally, I will discuss the awesome promise of the James Webb Space Telescope, and what we may hope to discover about the upper atmosphere using this facility.

If someone from outside of the SPP group would like to join the webinar, please send a request to n.rogers1@lancaster.ac.uk