The Uranian Geometric Albedo: An Analysis of Atmospheric Scatterers in the Near-Infrared

Charles M. Walter; Mark S. Marley

doi:10.1006/icar.1998.5892

The Uranian Geometric Albedo: An Analysis of Atmospheric Scatterers in the Near-Infrared

Charles M. Walter, Mark S. Marley

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3 Scopus citations

Abstract

Narrowband images of Uranus in the near-infrared from Apache Point Observatory were employed to derive the globally averaged properties of scatterers in the atmosphere in the post-Voyager epoch. In order to best probe different levels of the stratosphere and upper troposphere we measured and modeled the planetary geometric albedo using seven filters ranging from 1.28 to 2.36 μm. Since 1986 there has been a 20-fold increase in the stratospheric haze-column density, while the tropospheric cloud characteristics have remained largely the same. Our results suggest an upper limit on the optical thickness of the lower H₂S cloud of 15 at 1.58 μm.

Original language	English (US)
Pages (from-to)	285-297
Number of pages	13
Journal	Icarus
Volume	132
Issue number	2
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1006/icar.1998.5892
State	Published - Apr 1998
Externally published	Yes

ASJC Scopus subject areas

Astronomy and Astrophysics
Space and Planetary Science

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10.1006/icar.1998.5892

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title = "The Uranian Geometric Albedo: An Analysis of Atmospheric Scatterers in the Near-Infrared",

abstract = "Narrowband images of Uranus in the near-infrared from Apache Point Observatory were employed to derive the globally averaged properties of scatterers in the atmosphere in the post-Voyager epoch. In order to best probe different levels of the stratosphere and upper troposphere we measured and modeled the planetary geometric albedo using seven filters ranging from 1.28 to 2.36 μm. Since 1986 there has been a 20-fold increase in the stratospheric haze-column density, while the tropospheric cloud characteristics have remained largely the same. Our results suggest an upper limit on the optical thickness of the lower H2S cloud of 15 at 1.58 μm.",

author = "Walter, {Charles M.} and Marley, {Mark S.}",

note = "Funding Information: We acknowledge the efforts of the staff at Apache Point Observatory in helping us acquire the data used in this study. This work was supported by NASA Grant NGT-51383, a Graduate Student Research Fellowship that funded one of us (CMW) through dissertation work, and NSF Grant AST-9624878.",

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AU - Walter, Charles M.

AU - Marley, Mark S.

N1 - Funding Information: We acknowledge the efforts of the staff at Apache Point Observatory in helping us acquire the data used in this study. This work was supported by NASA Grant NGT-51383, a Graduate Student Research Fellowship that funded one of us (CMW) through dissertation work, and NSF Grant AST-9624878.

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N2 - Narrowband images of Uranus in the near-infrared from Apache Point Observatory were employed to derive the globally averaged properties of scatterers in the atmosphere in the post-Voyager epoch. In order to best probe different levels of the stratosphere and upper troposphere we measured and modeled the planetary geometric albedo using seven filters ranging from 1.28 to 2.36 μm. Since 1986 there has been a 20-fold increase in the stratospheric haze-column density, while the tropospheric cloud characteristics have remained largely the same. Our results suggest an upper limit on the optical thickness of the lower H2S cloud of 15 at 1.58 μm.

AB - Narrowband images of Uranus in the near-infrared from Apache Point Observatory were employed to derive the globally averaged properties of scatterers in the atmosphere in the post-Voyager epoch. In order to best probe different levels of the stratosphere and upper troposphere we measured and modeled the planetary geometric albedo using seven filters ranging from 1.28 to 2.36 μm. Since 1986 there has been a 20-fold increase in the stratospheric haze-column density, while the tropospheric cloud characteristics have remained largely the same. Our results suggest an upper limit on the optical thickness of the lower H2S cloud of 15 at 1.58 μm.

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The Uranian Geometric Albedo: An Analysis of Atmospheric Scatterers in the Near-Infrared

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