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Lunar regolith thermal gradients and emission spectra: Modeling and validation

Journal of Geophysical Research: Planets 116:12 (2011)

Authors:

L Millán, I Thomas, N Bowles

Abstract:

The retrieval of surface composition from IR measurements of airless bodies requires a model capable of computing the significant thermal gradients present in the top few hundred microns of the regolith. In this study we introduce a model which reproduces most of the features found in controlled experiments made in the simulated lunar environment emission chamber (SLEEC). Although the model presented here is forced by a lower boundary held at a fixed temperature, we conclude that a similar algorithm driven by solar illumination may be used as a forward model to retrieve composition, particle size and effective thermal conductivity from IR measurements of airless bodies. Copyright 2011 by the American Geophysical Union.
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High heat flow from Enceladus' south polar region measured using 10–600 cm−1 Cassini/CIRS data

Journal of Geophysical Research American Geophysical Union (AGU) 116:E3 (2011)

Authors:

CJA Howett, JR Spencer, J Pearl, M Segura
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Lunar Net-a proposal in response to an ESA M3 call in 2010 for a medium sized mission

Experimental Astronomy (2011) 1-58

Authors:

A Smith, IA Crawford, RA Gowen, R Ambrosi, M Anand, B Banerdt, N Bannister, N Bowles, C Braithwaite, P Brown, J Chela-Flores, T Cholinser, P Church, AJ Coates, T Colaprete, G Collins, G Collinson, T Cook, R Elphic, G Fraser, Y Gao, E Gibson, T Glotch, M Grande, A Griffiths, J Grygorczuk, M Gudipati, A Hagermann, J Heldmann, LL Hood, AP Jones, KH Joy, OB Khavroshkin, G Klingelhoefer, M Knapmeyer, G Kramer, D Lawrence, W Marczewski, S McKenna-Lawlor, K Miljkovic, S Narendranath, E Palomba, A Phipps, WT Pike, D Pullan, J Rask, DT Richard, K Seweryn, S Sheridan, M Sims, M Sweeting, T Swindle, D Talboys, L Taylor, N Teanby, V Tong, S Ulamec, R Wawrzaszek, M Wieczorek, L Wilson, I Wright

Venus's Southern Polar Vortex Reveals Precessing Circulation

Science (2011) 1-3

Authors:

D Luz, DL Berry, G Piccioni, P Drossart, R Politi, CF Wilson, S Erard, F Nuccilli

ORTIS - ORbiter terahertz infrared sounder

21st International Symposium on Space Terahertz Technology 2010, ISSTT 2010 (2010) 208

Authors:

BN Ellison, PGJ Irwin, SB Calcutt, S Rea, B Alderman, N Bowles, R Irshad, J Hurley

Abstract:

Accurate measurement of the temperature, composition and dynamics of Jupiter's atmosphere is one of the main scientific goals of ESA's and NASA's Outer Planet Mission proposals. Infrared remote sounding provides a powerful tool for achieving these objectives and was used by Voyager/IRIS and Cassini/CIRS, but is insensitive to some altitudes and gases. The sub-millimetre wavelength (terahertz) region of the electromagnetic spectrum, which has not been significantly exploited to date in the discipline of planetary science, provides unique spectral information over a range of atmospheric pressures and, when combined with infrared data, is a powerful in situ planetary atmospheric sounder. We will describe a novel low mass and low power consumption combined terahertz/IR instrument proposed for inclusion on the Jupiter Ganymede Orbiter that will greatly improve our understanding of the atmosphere of Jupiter. Through the combination of high spectral resolution 2.2THz spectroscopy (R=106) and lowspectral resolution IR radiometry, the entire temperature profile of the Jovian atmosphere from 0.6 to 10-3 bar can be evaluated (filling in the currently unmeasured levels between 0.1 and 0.01 bar). In addition, the tropospheric and stratospheric composition can be determined (especially water vapour) and observations of the Doppler shifting of sub-millimetre lines can also be used to measure horizontal wind speeds.