Dynamics of Triton's atmosphere
The recent Voyager encounter established certain facts about Triton's atmosphere: the surface pressure is in the range 1.5 – 1.9 Pa (15–19 μbar); the surface temperature is 38 ± 3K (ref. 2); molecular nitrogen is the dominant atmospheric constituent; hazes and clouds are visible not only on the...
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ftcaltechauth:oai:authors.library.caltech.edu:38024 2023-05-15T18:22:32+02:00 Dynamics of Triton's atmosphere Ingersoll, Andrew P. 1990-03-21 https://authors.library.caltech.edu/38024/ https://resolver.caltech.edu/CaltechAUTHORS:20130418-105343166 unknown Nature Publishing Group Ingersoll, Andrew P. (1990) Dynamics of Triton's atmosphere. Nature, 344 (6264). pp. 315-317. ISSN 0028-0836. doi:10.1038/344315a0. https://resolver.caltech.edu/CaltechAUTHORS:20130418-105343166 <https://resolver.caltech.edu/CaltechAUTHORS:20130418-105343166> Article PeerReviewed 1990 ftcaltechauth https://doi.org/10.1038/344315a0 2021-11-11T18:53:29Z The recent Voyager encounter established certain facts about Triton's atmosphere: the surface pressure is in the range 1.5 – 1.9 Pa (15–19 μbar); the surface temperature is 38 ± 3K (ref. 2); molecular nitrogen is the dominant atmospheric constituent; hazes and clouds are visible not only on the limb but also against the surface; the wind in the southern hemisphere is to the northeast at low altitudes (as shown by streaks on the surface) and to the west at high altitudes (as shown by geyser-like plume tails). Triton rotates with a period of 5.877 days in a right-hand sense about the south pole, where the season now is late spring4. Here we argue that these features can be explained if Triton, like Mars, has a global, well-structured atmosphere in equilibrium with surface frosts. The subliming frost cap produces a polar anticyclone at low altitudes, with northeastward winds of ~5 m s^(−1) within the Ekman boundary layer. The temperature contrast between the cold frost-covered pole and the warm unfrosted equator produces westward winds at high altitudes. Article in Journal/Newspaper South pole Caltech Authors (California Institute of Technology) South Pole Triton ENVELOPE(-55.615,-55.615,49.517,49.517) Nature 344 6264 315 317 |
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Caltech Authors (California Institute of Technology) |
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The recent Voyager encounter established certain facts about Triton's atmosphere: the surface pressure is in the range 1.5 – 1.9 Pa (15–19 μbar); the surface temperature is 38 ± 3K (ref. 2); molecular nitrogen is the dominant atmospheric constituent; hazes and clouds are visible not only on the limb but also against the surface; the wind in the southern hemisphere is to the northeast at low altitudes (as shown by streaks on the surface) and to the west at high altitudes (as shown by geyser-like plume tails). Triton rotates with a period of 5.877 days in a right-hand sense about the south pole, where the season now is late spring4. Here we argue that these features can be explained if Triton, like Mars, has a global, well-structured atmosphere in equilibrium with surface frosts. The subliming frost cap produces a polar anticyclone at low altitudes, with northeastward winds of ~5 m s^(−1) within the Ekman boundary layer. The temperature contrast between the cold frost-covered pole and the warm unfrosted equator produces westward winds at high altitudes. |
format |
Article in Journal/Newspaper |
author |
Ingersoll, Andrew P. |
spellingShingle |
Ingersoll, Andrew P. Dynamics of Triton's atmosphere |
author_facet |
Ingersoll, Andrew P. |
author_sort |
Ingersoll, Andrew P. |
title |
Dynamics of Triton's atmosphere |
title_short |
Dynamics of Triton's atmosphere |
title_full |
Dynamics of Triton's atmosphere |
title_fullStr |
Dynamics of Triton's atmosphere |
title_full_unstemmed |
Dynamics of Triton's atmosphere |
title_sort |
dynamics of triton's atmosphere |
publisher |
Nature Publishing Group |
publishDate |
1990 |
url |
https://authors.library.caltech.edu/38024/ https://resolver.caltech.edu/CaltechAUTHORS:20130418-105343166 |
long_lat |
ENVELOPE(-55.615,-55.615,49.517,49.517) |
geographic |
South Pole Triton |
geographic_facet |
South Pole Triton |
genre |
South pole |
genre_facet |
South pole |
op_relation |
Ingersoll, Andrew P. (1990) Dynamics of Triton's atmosphere. Nature, 344 (6264). pp. 315-317. ISSN 0028-0836. doi:10.1038/344315a0. https://resolver.caltech.edu/CaltechAUTHORS:20130418-105343166 <https://resolver.caltech.edu/CaltechAUTHORS:20130418-105343166> |
op_doi |
https://doi.org/10.1038/344315a0 |
container_title |
Nature |
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344 |
container_issue |
6264 |
container_start_page |
315 |
op_container_end_page |
317 |
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1766201940898742272 |