The mysterious mid-latitude ionosphere of Saturn via ground-based observations of H3+: ring rain and other drivers
Abstract
In 2013, we discovered that the "ring rain" which falls on Saturn from the rings also leaves an imprint on the low-latitude upper-atmosphere. Specifically, the ionospheric-bound H3+ ion appeared to emit brightest where water products are known to fall. Here we show the first re-detections of the imprint of "ring rain" on Saturn's ionosphere, using ground-based Keck telescope data from 2013 and 2014. We have also found that the emission from low-latitudes decreases dramatically from 2011 to 2013, implying a planetary cooling over the time period, but we are unaware of the mechanism of this cooling at present.
- Publication:
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European Planetary Science Congress
- Pub Date:
- September 2017
- Bibcode:
- 2017EPSC...11..336O