Saturn's Ionosphere: Electron Density Altitude Profiles and D-Ring Interaction From The Cassini Grand Finale

Saturn's Ionosphere : Electron Density Altitude Profiles and D-Ring Interaction From The Cassini Grand Finale

Hadid, Lina Z (author): Uppsala universitet,Institutet för rymdfysik, Uppsalaavdelningen

Morooka, Michiko W (author): Uppsala universitet,Institutet för rymdfysik, Uppsalaavdelningen

Wahlund, Jan-Erik (author): Uppsala universitet,Institutet för rymdfysik, Uppsalaavdelningen

Persoon, A. M. (author): Univ Iowa, Dept Phys & Astron, Iowa City, IA 52242 USA

Andrews, David J. (author): Uppsala universitet,Institutet för rymdfysik, Uppsalaavdelningen

Shebanits, O. (author): Imperial Coll London, Blackett Lab, Space & Atmospher Phys, London, England

Kurth, W. S. (author): Univ Iowa, Dept Phys & Astron, Iowa City, IA 52242 USA

Vigren, Erik (author): Uppsala universitet,Institutet för rymdfysik, Uppsalaavdelningen

Edberg, Niklas J. T. (author): Uppsala universitet,Institutet för rymdfysik, Uppsalaavdelningen

Nagy, A. F. (author): Univ Michigan, Climate & Space Sci & Engn, Ann Arbor, MI 48109 USA

Eriksson, Anders I (author): Uppsala universitet,Institutet för rymdfysik, Uppsalaavdelningen

(creator_code:org_t)

2019
2019
English.
In: Geophysical Research Letters. - 0094-8276 .- 1944-8007. ; 46:16, s. 9362-9369

Related links:: https://urn.kb.se/re...; show more...; https://doi.org/10.1...; show less...

Abstract Subject headings

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.

By the author/editor: Hadid, Lina Z; Morooka, Michiko ...; Wahlund, Jan-Eri ...; Persoon, A. M.; Andrews, David J ...; Shebanits, O.; show more...; Kurth, W. S.; Vigren, Erik; Edberg, Niklas J ...; Nagy, A. F.; Eriksson, Anders ...; show less...

About the subject

NATURAL SCIENCES: NATURAL SCIENCES; and Physical Science ...; and Fusion Plasma an ...

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