next up previous
Next: Estimated Timeline Up: No Title Previous: The Atmosphere Model

Expected results

The potential contributions from the dissertation are not limited to Uranus, but can be extrapolated to the other Jovian planets. The observations and the modeling will be working hand-in-hand in another sort of iterative solution until each can no longer improve the other. With this being first post-Voyager modeling attempt and the first ground-based observation ever to spatially-resolve the planet in the thermal infrared I expect a much better understanding of the atmospheric structure due to the improved temperature profiles. It is hoped that these profiles along with better modeling of the constituents of the atmosphere to be determined from the observations will allow the puzzle of warm stratosphere to be discovered. With measurements significantly past the southern solar solstice but not near the following equinox I hope to determine if the south pole has a measurable difference in temperature from the equator or if meridional transport of energy is quicker than previously assumed. While the near-IR observations will help place the methane abundance in the stratosphere, the thermal observations will allow a better understanding of where the solar energy is reflected, absorbed, and reemitted and to what degree. If the data is of high quality it could shed some light on the muted internal heat flow.



Charles Walter
Thu May 18 17:57:23 MDT 1995