Both Caltech and Non-Caltech students will be considered

Project Title:

Planetary Meteorology in Jupiter

Project Description:

Opportunities exist for students with backgrounds or interests in physics, spectroscopy, planetary astronomy, or computer graphics in projects related to planetary meteorology in Jupiter, using infrared data in imaging and spectrometric form obtained at a variety of observatories between 1984 and 1996. Chief among these are the NASA Hubble Space Telescope, the NASA Infared Telescope Facility and Palomar Observatory (the 5-m telescope). The work will involve reduction of infrared images at wavelengths sensitive to tropospheric and stratospheric temperatures, the distribution of ammonia gas, and to the properties of clouds. From such maps, one can deduce basic meteorology and derive (1) the level of correlation of changes of temperatures with visual or infrared cloud properties, (2) correlations of changes in tropospheric and stratospheric temperatures over several years, (3) relationships between changes of properties of clouds at 1-bar and at deeper levels. Other work will involve comparing information retrieved from these thermal maps with visual or near-infrared maps (showing the amount of sunlight reflected from atmospheric clouds), from which correlations with cloud properties might be deduced.

Background Information:

Particularly important this year will be assistance in the rapid reduction and analysis of data to be obtained at several different observatories involving support for the ongoing Galileo mission. These data will be used to support near real-time observations coincident with Galileo atmospheric remote sensing, and they will also be used to target the spacecraft to regions of interest in orbits following the late June initial orbit encounter. Opportunities exist for theoretical studies of spectroscopic and other molecular properties to support these and direct analysis of Galileo Probe and Orbiter data. Opportunities also exist for analysis of a variety of data from the Shoemaker-Levy 9 impact with Jupiter in July, 1994, and its subsequent influence on the atmosphere.

Literature references or articles that may provide more information on the project:
Requirements (skills, specific coursework, academic major, year in school, etc.):

Working knowledge of FORTRAN by the time of the study is essential; IDL (Interactive Data Language) will also be extensively used in imaging analysis and students unfamiliar with it will become proficient in its use early in the researach program. This position can accmodate more than one student, but it has attracted several applicants in the past and is generally quite competitive.Students are particularly encouraged to apply for longer time intervals; up to 14 weeks of support can be accomodated.

Research Sponsor Name: Glenn S. Orton
E-Mail: go@orton.jpl.nasa.gov
Division: JPL
Telephone: (818) 354-2460
Address: M/C 169-237

For further information contact Dr. Orton

Return to Jet Propulsion Laboratory Index or SURF Home Page