The Astrophysical Journal · 1982 · 84 citations · 0 references
Natural SciencesAstronomyPhysicsAstrophysicsPlanetary AstronomyPlanetary SciencePlanetary Atmosphere ChemistryPlanetary AtmospheresPlanetary CompositionSolar PhysicsStellar AtmospheresAtmospheric CharacterizationHot Jupiter Infrared ObservationsInstrument Noise CharacterizationJupiter Atmosphere ChemistryPlanetary System EvolutionSpectroscopy Of Planetary AtmospheresSystematic UncertaintiesVolume Expansion Ratio
From a selection Voyager IRIS spectra corresponding to cloud-free areas of Jupiter, the CH4/H2 volume ratio in the atmosphere of this planet has been determined to be equal to 0.00195 + or - 0.00022, which corresponds to 2.07 + or - 0.24 times the solar value of Lambert (C/H = 0.00047). The estimate of errors includes both instrument noise and systematic uncertainties. Implications of this result for the formation and evolution of Jupiter are discussed.