Journal article
Atmospheric Electricity at Saturn
Space science reviews, Vol.137(1-4), pp.271-285
06/01/2008
DOI: 10.1007/s11214-008-9370-z
Abstract
The Cassini mission provides a great opportunity to enlarge our knowledge of atmospheric electricity at the gas giant Saturn. Following Voyager studies, the RPWS (Radio and Plasma Wave Science) instrument has measured again the so-called SEDs (Saturn Electrostatic Discharges) which are the radio signature of lightning flashes. Observations by Cassini/ISS (Imaging Science Subsystem) have shown cloud features in Saturn's atmosphere whose occurrence, longitudinal drift rate, and brightness were strongly related to the SEDs. In this paper we will review the main physical parameters of the SEDs. Lightning does not only give us clues about the dynamics of the atmosphere, but also serves as a natural tool to investigate properties of Saturn's ionosphere. We will also discuss other lightning related phenomena and compare Saturn lightning with terrestrial and Jovian lightning.
Details
- Title: Subtitle
- Atmospheric Electricity at Saturn
- Creators
- Georg Fischer - University of IowaDonald A. Gurnett - University of IowaWilliam S. Kurth - University of IowaFerzan Akalin - University of IowaPhilippe Zarka - Observatoire de ParisUlyana A. Dyudina - California Institute of TechnologyWilliam M. Farrell - Goddard Space Flight CenterMichael L. Kaiser - Goddard Space Flight Center
- Resource Type
- Journal article
- Publication Details
- Space science reviews, Vol.137(1-4), pp.271-285
- Publisher
- Springer Verlag
- DOI
- 10.1007/s11214-008-9370-z
- ISSN
- 0038-6308
- eISSN
- 1572-9672
- Language
- English
- Date published
- 06/01/2008
- Academic Unit
- Physics and Astronomy
- Record Identifier
- 9984455280202771
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