Book contents
- Frontmatter
- Contents
- Participants
- Preface
- The orbital motion and impact circumstances of Comet Shoemaker-Levy 9
- Observational constraints on the composition and nature of Comet D/Shoemaker-Levy 9
- Tidal breakup of the nucleus of Comet Shoemaker–Levy 9
- Earth-based observations of impact phenomena
- HST imaging of Jupiter shortly after each impact: Plumes & fresh sites
- Galileo observations of the impacts
- Models of fragment penetration and fireball evolution
- Entry and fireball models vs. observations: What have we learned?
- Dynamics and chemistry of SL9 plumes
- Chemistry induced by the impacts: Observations
- SL9 impact chemistry: Long-term photochemical evolution
- Particulate matter in Jupiter's atmosphere from the impacts of Comet P/Shoemaker-Levy 9
- Jupiter's post-impact atmospheric thermal response
- Growth and dispersion of the Shoemaker-Levy 9 impact features from HST imaging
- Waves from the Shoemaker-Levy 9 impacts
- Jovian magnetospheric and auroral effects of the SL9 impacts
SL9 impact chemistry: Long-term photochemical evolution
Published online by Cambridge University Press: 12 September 2009
- Frontmatter
- Contents
- Participants
- Preface
- The orbital motion and impact circumstances of Comet Shoemaker-Levy 9
- Observational constraints on the composition and nature of Comet D/Shoemaker-Levy 9
- Tidal breakup of the nucleus of Comet Shoemaker–Levy 9
- Earth-based observations of impact phenomena
- HST imaging of Jupiter shortly after each impact: Plumes & fresh sites
- Galileo observations of the impacts
- Models of fragment penetration and fireball evolution
- Entry and fireball models vs. observations: What have we learned?
- Dynamics and chemistry of SL9 plumes
- Chemistry induced by the impacts: Observations
- SL9 impact chemistry: Long-term photochemical evolution
- Particulate matter in Jupiter's atmosphere from the impacts of Comet P/Shoemaker-Levy 9
- Jupiter's post-impact atmospheric thermal response
- Growth and dispersion of the Shoemaker-Levy 9 impact features from HST imaging
- Waves from the Shoemaker-Levy 9 impacts
- Jovian magnetospheric and auroral effects of the SL9 impacts
Summary
One-dimensional photochemical models are used to provide an assessment of the chemical composition of the Shoemaker-Levy 9 impact sites soon after the impacts, and over time, as the impact-derived molecular species evolve due to photochemical processes. Photochemical model predictions are compared with the observed temporal variation of the impact-derived molecules in order to place constraints on the initial composition at the impact sites and on the amount of aerosol debris deposited in the stratosphere. The time variation of NH3, HCN, OCS, and H2S in the photochemical models roughly parallels that of the observations. S2 persists too long in the photochemical models, suggesting that some of the estimated chemical rates constants and/or initial conditions (e.g., the assumed altitude distribution or abundance of S2) are incorrect. Models predict that CS and CO persist for months or years in the jovian stratosphere. Observations indicate that the model results with regard to CS are qualitatively correct (although the measured CS abundance demonstrates the need for a larger assumed initial abundance of CS in the models), but that CO appears to be more stable in the models than is indicated by observations. The reason for this discrepancy is unknown. We use model-data comparisons to learn more about the unique photochemical processes occurring after the impacts.
- Type
- Chapter
- Information
- The Collision of Comet Shoemaker-Levy 9 and JupiterIAU Colloquium 156, pp. 243 - 268Publisher: Cambridge University PressPrint publication year: 1996
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