Planetary atmosphere observation analysis

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Saturn’s Local and Seasonal Aerosol Variations Inferred from Cassini Combined UV, Visual, and Near-IR Observations  

(2025)

Authors:

James Sinclair, Emma Dahl, Kevin Baines, Tom Momary, Lawrence Sromovsky, Pat Fry, Patrick Irwin

Abstract:

Clouds are the manifestations of atmospheric dynamics, chemistry, thermal evolution, and orbital characteristics; thus, understanding their physical and spectral properties and their spatial and temporal variability is critical to understanding the planet as a whole.  Observations of Saturn by the Hubble Space Telescope since 1994 and by Cassini from 2004 - 2017 have spanned almost one Saturn year (29.5 Earth years).  Despite the wealth of data, a self-consistent picture of the seasonal variations in Saturn’s haze and cloud structure remain elusive. In this work, we present a radiative transfer analysis of Cassini-VIMS (Visible and Infrared Mapping Spectrometer) spectra in order to derive the vertical structure and color properties of Saturn’s clouds and their latitudinal and seasonal variability.  VIMS records spectra over visible (0.3 to 1.05 micron) and infrared (0.85 to 5.1 micron) channels at spectral resolutions of 7 and 16 nm, respectively.  After a review of the VIMS dataset, we have identified dayside spectra that capture unique cloud features in a given latitude circle at multiple emission angles, allowing for improved vertical discrimination of cloud models. Data are additionally available over multiple epochs, allowing us to analyze any seasonal evolution.  Using the NEMESIS radiative transfer code (Irwin et al., 2008, JQSRT 109, 1136-1150), we invert the VIMS spectra to derive the vertical profiles of phosphine (PH3), ammonia (NH3) and the vertical structure of 4 haze/cloud layers (using the cloud model and cloud/gas parameters shown in Figure 1).  In preliminary findings, in adopting the chromophore optical constants derived by Sromovsky et al., 2021 (Icarus 362, 114409) for a north polar cloud observed in 2016, we find we can adequately fit the spectra for a subset of clouds observed in September 2014.  At other locations/times, the chromophore optical constants derived by Sromovsly et al., 2021, need to be varied in order to fit the spectra within uncertainty, which indicates seasonal evolution of Saturn’s chromophore.  In this work, we present derived cloud properties and the optical constants of the derived chromophore as a function of latitude and season in order to shed light on the complex interplay between cloud structure, color, chemistry, and orbital characteristics.     
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Spectral Variability and Compositional Insights from Asteroid (101955) Bennu’s Sampling Sites Using OTES Data 

(2025)

Authors:

Emma Belhadfa, Katherine Shirley, Neil Bowles

Abstract:

Introduction: During the Reconnaissance phase of NASA’s OSIRIS-REx mission, the Thermal Emission Spectrometer (OTES) acquired high–spatial resolution emissivity spectra over Bennu’s four prospective sampling sites [1, 2]. We analyse the calibrated OTES dataset archived in the Planetary Data System [3] to quantify compositional and mineralogical diversity across the original four candidate sample sites (Nightingale, Kingfisher, Osprey, and Sandpiper) and to explore possible drivers of Bennu’s surface heterogeneity, including implications for Bennu’s mineralogy and space-weathering history.  Figure 1: Site-Averaged Emissivity Spectra with Annotated Band Parameters Methods: Calibrated emissivity spectra (5.7-100 µm) were linked to corresponding OCAMS imagery [5] to place the thermal infrared measurements in geological context, by cross-referencing observation times. For every spectrum we derived four diagnostic band parameters: Christiansen Feature (CF), silicate stretching band, silicate bending band and spectral slope, following the methods outlined in [6]. Each site contains thousands of spectral observations (site-averaged for visualization in Figure 1). The corresponding band parameters were compared using three statistical models: Principal Component Analysis (PCA) [5], k-Nearest Neighbors (KNN) [7], and Analysis of Variance (ANOVA) [8]. The three methods compare the mean and variance of each individual observation per site, considering how the in-group variance (i.e. the spread within all observations of a single site) compares to the out-group variance (i.e. the spread from other sites).  Results: Significant differences in emissivity spectra emerged among the four sites. PCA indicated that the first three components explain 85.5% of spectral variance, distinguishing Kingfisher as notably unique, with Sandpiper and Osprey exhibiting the greatest similarity. The KNN analysis corroborated PCA findings, reaching optimal classification accuracy (47%) at k = 21. ANOVA highlighted significant variability among the sites, especially in the spectral slope parameter (F = 762.8), suggesting differences in particle size distribution and space weathering could be driving factors in the detected heterogeneity [9]. Band ratio analyses provided additional insight into site-specific mineralogical distinctions, notably the relationship between silicate features and aqueous alteration indicators [10].  Figure 2: Distributions of Band Parameters by Site Discussion: Variability in spectral parameters aligns with documented particle size frequency distributions and known space weathering spectral types across Bennu’s surface [9]. Nightingale, the mission’s selected sample site, captures representative global characteristics, contrasting with Kingfisher’s distinct compositional and physical attributes, potentially related to differences in Fe/Mg content and degree of aqueous alteration [10].  Conclusion: Integrative use of multiple statistical approaches confirms the compositional and physical diversity of Bennu's surface, as seen through the four prospective sites. These analyses provide a framework for interpreting returned sample data and offer insights into the connections between mineralogy, particle size, and space weathering processes on small airless body surfaces.  References: [1] Lauretta D. S. et al (2021) Sample Return Missions. [2] Hamilton V. et al. (2021) A&A (Vol. 650). [3] Christensen, P. R. et al. (2019) NASA Planetary Data System [4] Christensen P. R. et al. (2018) Space Science Reviews (Vol. 214, Issue 5). [5] Rizk B. et al (2018) Space Science Reviews (Vol. 214, Issue 1). [6] Xie B. et al (2022) Minerals (Vol. 508, Issue 12). [7] Kramer O. (2013) Intelligent Systems Reference Library (13-23). [8] Sawyer S. (2009) Journal of Manual & Manipulative Therapy. [9] Clark B. E. et al (2023) Icarus (Vol. 400). [10] Bates H. et al (2020) MaPS (Vol. 55, Issue 1). 
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Temperature, Composition, and Cloud structure in Atmosphere of Neptune from MIRI-MRS and NIRSpec-IFU Observations

(2025)

Authors:

Michael Roman, Leigh Fletcher, Heidi Hammel, Oliver King, Glenn Orton, Naomi Rowe-Gurney, Patrick Irwin, Julianne Moses, Imke de Pater, Henrik Melin, Jake Harkett, Simon Toogood, Stefanie Milam

Abstract:

We present observations and analysis of Neptune’s atmosphere from JWST, providing new constraints on hydrocarbon abundances, cloud properties, and temperature structure across the planet’s disk.  JWST observed Neptune in June 2023 (program1249) as part of the Solar System Guaranteed Time Observations (GTO). Integral field spectroscopy (IFS) with the Near-Infrared Spectrograph (NIRSpec) and the Mid-Infrared Instrument/Medium Resolution Spectrometer (MIRI/MRS) were combined to provide nearly simultaneous and continuous spatial and spectral data between 1.66 and 28.70 microns.We show how wavelengths sensitive to the atmospheric temperatures reveal a structure consistent with Voyager [1] and ground-based imaging [2,3], with a sharply defined warm polar vortex. In contrast, wavelengths sensitive to stratospheric hydrocarbons (namely acetylene and ethane) show a marked enhancement in the northern winter hemisphere.Finally, we examine the distribution and vertical structure of clouds in context of the temperature and chemical structure. Scattered light in NIRSpec observations indicate variable discrete clouds extend to pressures of roughly 50 mbar at the northernmost latitudes and south pole. [1] Conrath, B. J., F. M. Flasar, and P. J. Gierasch. "Thermal structure and dynamics of Neptune's atmosphere from Voyager measurements." Journal of Geophysical Research: Space Physics 96, no. S01 (1991): 18931-18939.[2] Fletcher, Leigh N., Imke de Pater, Glenn S. Orton, Heidi B. Hammel, Michael L. Sitko, and Patrick GJ Irwin. "Neptune at summer solstice: zonal mean temperatures from ground-based observations, 2003–2007." Icarus 231 (2014): 146-167.[3] Roman, Michael T., Leigh N. Fletcher, Glenn S. Orton, Thomas K. Greathouse, Julianne I. Moses, Naomi Rowe-Gurney, Patrick GJ Irwin et al. "Subseasonal variation in Neptune’s mid-infrared emission." The Planetary Science Journal 3, no. 4 (2022): 78.
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Temperature, Composition, and Cloud structure in Atmosphere of Uranus from MIRI-MRS and NIRSpec-IFU Spectra

(2025)

Authors:

Michael Roman, Leigh Fletcher, Heidi Hammel, Patrick Irwin, Oliver King, Naomi Rowe-Gurney, Julianne Moses, Glenn Orton, Imke de Pater, Henrik Melin, Jake Harkett, Matthew Hedman, Simon Toogood, Stefanie Milam

Abstract:

Introduction: Due to Uranus’ weak thermal radiance, the thermal and compositional structures of its atmosphere have remained poorly characterised. Here, using the unprecedented sensitivity of JWST's MIRI and NIRSpec instruments, we present an analysis of Uranus' spatially resolved spectrum spanning the near- and mid-infrared, revealing how temperatures, composition, and clouds vary across the planet's northern hemisphere.Observations: JWST observed Uranus on 8--9 January 2023 (program1248) as part of the Solar System Guaranteed Time Observations (GTO). Integral field spectroscopy (IFS) with the Near-Infrared Spectrograph (NIRSpec) and the Mid-Infrared Instrument/Medium Resolution Spectrometer (MIRI/MRS) were combined to provide nearly simultaneous and continuous spatial and spectral data between 1.66 and 28.70 microns.Temperatures: The nearly continuous spectral coverage offered by the combination of NIRSpec and MIRI provide constraints on the temperature structure from the stratosphere down to several bars. The average temperature-pressure vertical profile is largely consistent with that determined from Spitzer [1], but the spatially resolved JWST reveal how these temperatures vary with latitude in the stratosphere and cloud layer for the first time [2]. They also suggest the possibility of a sub-adiabatic cloud layer.Chemistry: Our radiative transfer analysis of MIRI-MRS spectra 1) provide new constraints on minor species in Uranus’ stratosphere and 2) reveals how various hydrocarbons vary as a function of latitude. The observed distributions are indicative of a combination of seasonal photochemistry [3] and dynamical processes, as we will briefly discuss.Clouds and hazes: Finally, we briefly examine the vertical cloud structure and its latitudinal variation as sensed by NIRSpec data. The data reveal the opacity of Uranus clouds and hazes spanning the transition from scattered sunlight to thermal emission for the first time. The overall vertical structure suggested by these new data largely agrees with that of prior work [3,4,5], but a comparison between observed and model spectra reveal interesting discrepancies and possibly a need for additional sources of opacity. [1] Orton, G.S., Fletcher, L.N., Moses, J.I., Mainzer, A.K., Hines, D., Hammel, H.B., Martin-Torres, F.J., Burgdorf, M., Merlet, C., Line, M.R.: Mid-infrared spectroscopy of uranus from the spitzer infrared spectrometer: 1. determination of the mean temperature structure of the upper troposphere and stratosphere. Icarus 243, 494–513 (2014)[2] Roman, M.T., Fletcher, L.N., Orton, G.S., Rowe-Gurney, N., Irwin, P.G.: Uranus in northern midspring: persistent atmospheric temperatures and circulations inferred from thermal imaging. The Astronomical Journal 159(2), 45 (2020)[3] Moses, J.I., Fletcher, L.N., Greathouse, T.K., Orton, G.S., Hue, V.: Seasonal stratospheric photochemistry on uranus and neptune. Icarus 307, 124–145 (2018)[4] Sromovsky, L.A., Karkoschka, E., Fry, P.M., Pater, I., Hammel, H.B.: The methane distribution and polar brightening on uranus based on hst/stis, keck-nirc2, and irtf/spex observations through 2015. Icarus 317, 266–306 (2019)189[5] Irwin, P.G., Teanby, N.A., Fletcher, L.N., Toledo, D., Orton, G.S., Wong, M.H.,Roman, M.T., Perez-Hoyos, S., James, A., Dobinson, J.: Hazy blue worlds:A holistic aerosol model for uranus and neptune, including dark spots[6] Roman, M.T., Banfield, D., Gierasch, P.J.: Aerosols and methane in the ice giant atmospheres inferred from spatially resolved, near-infrared spectra: I. uranus, 2001–2007. Icarus 310, 54–76 (2018)
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The Rise and Fall of a Mid-West Tilt: Seasonal Evolution of Titan’s Stratospheric Tilt Axis

(2025)

Authors:

Lucy Wright, Nicholas Teanby, Patrick Irwin, Conor Nixon, Nicholas Lombardo, Juan Lora, Daniel Mitchell

Abstract:

Titan’s entire stratosphere is in superrotation (Flasar et al. 2005) and appears to rotate about an axis offset from its solid body rotation axis by around 4o (Achterberg et al. 2008). The stratospheric tilt axis has been estimated previously through temperature measurements (Achterberg et al. 2011; 2008), composition retrievals (Sharkey et al. 2020; Teanby 2010), and by analysis of stratospheric haze (Kutsop et al. 2022; Roman et al. 2009; Snell and Banfield 2024; Vashist et al. 2023) and a polar cloud (West et al. 2016). Despite this, the mechanism causing the tilt is not well understood. This challenge is further heightened as Titan General Circulation Models (GCMs) are yet to resolve a tilt consistent with observations (e.g., Lombardo and Lora (2023a; 2023b)).Understanding the cause of Titan’s stratospheric tilt may provide insight into the underlying dynamics that drive superrotation in Titan’s atmosphere and the behaviour of superrotating atmospheres in general. Furthermore, due to the strength of Titan’s zonal winds, the offset of the stratospheric rotation axis may have a significant effect on the atmospheric descent of the upcoming Dragonfly mission to Titan. Thus, improved constraints on the tilt axis may better inform the landing site calculations for Dragonfly.We determine the evolution of Titan’s stratospheric tilt axis over 13 years (Ls = 293—93o), which spans almost half a Titan year. The tilt was determined by inspecting zonal symmetry in the (i) thermal and (ii) composition structure of Titan’s stratosphere. These two independent methods probe different latitude regions. We use infrared observations acquired by the Composite Infrared Spectrometer (CIRS) (Flasar et al. 2004; Jennings et al. 2017; Nixon et al. 2019) instrument onboard the Cassini spacecraft, which toured the Saturn system from 2004 to 2017. We use nadir CIRS observations acquired at a low apodised spectral resolution (FWHM∼13.5–15.5 cm−1). This data set provides excellent spatial coverage of Titan’s middle atmosphere throughout the Cassini mission and achieves the best horizontal spatial resolution of any of the CIRS observations. Despite the subtle and often blended spectral features in these data, Wright et al. (2024) show that they can be reliably forward modelled. Vertical profiles of temperature and gas volume mixing ratios (VMRs) are estimated from CIRS FP3/4 spectra using the Non-linear Optimal Estimator for MultivariatE Spectral AnalySIS (NEMESIS) radiative transfer and retrieval code (Irwin et al. 2008). The observations probe pressure levels of ~10—10-3 mbar in Titan’s atmosphere, with peak contributions at around 1 mbar. These data enable us to reveal Titan’s stratospheric thermal and composition structure in the highest meridional resolution to date and facilitate an independent study of the tilt offset of Titan’s stratosphere.We find that the tilt axis in the mid-latitudes (from (i)) and the equatorial region (from (ii)) are in good agreement, which supports the theory that Titan’s entire stratosphere is tilted relative to its solid body (Achterberg et al. 2008). In addition to this, we present the best evidence yet that the pointing direction of Titan’s stratospheric tilt axis is constant in the inertial reference frame (Wright et al. in press), consistent with previous studies (Achterberg et al. 2011; Kutsop et al. 2022; Sharkey et al. 2020; Snell and Banfield 2024). The tilt azimuth is determined to be 121± 7o West of the sub-solar point at Titan’s northern spring equinox (Ls = 0o). Put another way, the pointing direction of the tilt axis would appear constant to an observer looking down on the Solar System.In addition, we present new evidence that the magnitude of Titan’s stratospheric tilt axis may have a seasonal dependence, oscillating between values of approximately 2o to 10o with a period similar in length to half a Titan year. If this pattern is real, it suggests that the tilt of Titan’s stratosphere is impacted by seasonal forcing, even though the direction of the tilt remains constant.Fig 1: Schematic showing the direction of Titan’s stratospheric tilt axis from Wright et al. (in press). Titan and Saturn are shown at some example times in their orbit. The tilt direction is determined to be approximately constant in the inertial reference frame, that is, fixed with respect to the Titan-Sun vector at northern spring equinox (Ls = 0◦). The approximate size of the tilt magnitude, β, is indicated by font size. References:Achterberg, R. K., et al. 2008. Icarus 197 (2): 549–55. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.icarus.2008.05.014.Achterberg, R. K., et al. 2011. Icarus 211 (1): 686–98. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.icarus.2010.08.009.Flasar, F. M., et al. 2005. Science 308 (5724): 975–78. https://doi.org/10.1126/science.1111150.Flasar, F. M., et al. 2004. Space Science Reviews 115 (1–4): 169–297. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11214-004-1454-9.Irwin, P.G.J., et al. 2008. Journal of Quantitative Spectroscopy and Radiative Transfer 109 (6): 1136–50. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jqsrt.2007.11.006.Jennings, D. E., et al. 2017. Applied Optics 56 (18): 5274. https://doi.org/10.1364/AO.56.005274.Kutsop, N. W., et al. 2022. The Planetary Science Journal 3 (5): 114. https://doi.org/10.3847/PSJ/ac582d.Lombardo, N. A., and J. M. Lora. 2023a. Journal of Geophysical Research: Planets 128 (12): e2023JE008061. https://doi.org/10.1029/2023JE008061.Lombardo, N. A., and Juan M. Lora. 2023b. Icarus 390 (January):115291. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.icarus.2022.115291.Nixon, C. A., et al. 2019. The Astrophysical Journal Supplement Series 244 (1): 14. https://doi.org/10.3847/1538-4365/ab3799.Roman, M. T., et al. 2009. Icarus 203 (1): 242–49. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.icarus.2009.04.021.Sharkey, J., et al. 2020. Icarus 337 (February):113441. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.icarus.2019.113441.Snell, C., and D. Banfield. 2024. The Planetary Science Journal 5 (1): 12. https://doi.org/10.3847/PSJ/ad0bec.Teanby, N. A. 2010. Faraday Discussions 147:51. https://doi.org/10.1039/c001690j.Vashist, Aadvik S, et al. 2023. The Planetary Science Journal 4 (6): 118. https://doi.org/10.3847/PSJ/acdd05.West, R. A., et al. 2016. Icarus 270 (May):399–408. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.icarus.2014.11.038.Wright, L., et al. 2024. Experimental Astronomy 57 (2): 15. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10686-024-09934-y.Wright, L., et al. in press. The Planetary Science Journal. https://doi.org/10.3847/PSJ/adcab3.
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