Journal article
Saturn's Ionosphere: Electron Density Altitude Profiles and D-Ring Interaction From The Cassini Grand Finale
Geophysical research letters, Vol.46(16), pp.9362-9369
08/28/2019
DOI: 10.1029/2018GL078004
Abstract
We present the electron density (n(e)) altitude profiles of Saturn's ionosphere at near-equatorial latitudes from all 23 orbits of Cassini's Grand Finale. The data are collected by the Langmuir probe part of the Radio and Plasma Wave Science investigation. A high degree of variability in the electron density profiles is observed. However, organizing them by consecutive altitude ranges revealed clear differences between the southern and northern hemispheres. The n(e) profiles are shown to be more variable and connected to the D-ring below 5,000 km in the southern hemisphere compared to the northern hemisphere. This observed variability is explained to be a consequence of an electrodynamic interaction with the D-ring. Moreover, a density altitude profile is constructed for the northern hemisphere indicating the presence of three different ionospheric layers. Similar properties were observed during Cassini's final plunge, where the main ionospheric peak is crossed at similar to 1,550-km altitude. Plain Language Summary The Cassini Langmuir probe measured directly the uppermost layer of Saturn's atmosphere, the ionosphere, during its Grand Finale. The observations revealed a layered electron density altitude profile with evidence in the southern hemisphere of an electrodynamic type of interaction with the planet innermost D-ring. Moreover, the main peak of the ionosphere is observed for the first time in the final plunge around 1,550 km.
Details
- Title: Subtitle
- Saturn's Ionosphere: Electron Density Altitude Profiles and D-Ring Interaction From The Cassini Grand Finale
- Creators
- Lina Z Hadid - Swedish Institute of Space PhysicsMichiko W Morooka - Swedish Institute of Space PhysicsJan-Erik Wahlund - Swedish Institute of Space PhysicsA. M. Persoon - University of IowaDavid J. Andrews - Swedish Institute of Space PhysicsO. Shebanits - Imperial College LondonW. S. Kurth - University of IowaErik Vigren - Swedish Institute of Space PhysicsNiklas J. T. Edberg - Swedish Institute of Space PhysicsA. F. Nagy - University of Michigan–Ann ArborAnders I Eriksson - Swedish Institute of Space Physics
- Resource Type
- Journal article
- Publication Details
- Geophysical research letters, Vol.46(16), pp.9362-9369
- DOI
- 10.1029/2018GL078004
- ISSN
- 1944-8007
- eISSN
- 1944-8007
- Grant note
- DOI: 10.13039/100008893, name: University of Iowa
- Language
- English
- Date published
- 08/28/2019
- Academic Unit
- Physics and Astronomy
- Record Identifier
- 9984455657902771
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