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Abstract Vertical energy transports due to dissipating gravity waves in the mesopause region (85–100 km) are analyzed using over 400 h of observational data obtained from a narrow‐band sodium wind‐temperature lidar located at Andes Lidar Observatory (ALO), Cerro Pachón (30.25°S, 70.73°W), Chile. Sensible heat flux is directly estimated using measured temperature and vertical wind; energy flux is estimated from the vertical wavenumber and frequency spectra of temperature perturbations; and enthalpy flux is derived based on its relationship with sensible heat and energy fluxes. Sensible heat flux is mostly downward throughout the region. Enthalpy flux exhibits an annual oscillation with maximum downward transport in July above 90 km. The dominant feature of energy flux is the exponential decrease from 10−2to 10−4 W m−2with the altitude increases from 85 to 100 km and is larger during austral winter. The annual mean thermal diffusivity inferred from enthalpy flux decreases from 303 m2s−1at 85 km to minimum 221 m2s−1at 90 km then increases to 350 m2s−1at 99 km. Results also show that shorter period gravity waves tend to dissipate at higher altitudes and generate more heat transport. The averaged vertical group velocities for high, medium, and low frequency waves are 4.15 m s−1, 1.15 m s−1, and 0.70 m s−1, respectively. Gravity wave heat transport brings significant cooling in the mesopause region at an average cooling rate of 6.7 ± 1.1 K per day.
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This content will become publicly available on December 20, 2025
Io’s SO 2 and NaCl Wind Fields from ALMA
Abstract We present spatially resolved measurements of SO2and NaCl winds on Io at several unique points in its orbit: before and after eclipse and at maximum eastern and western elongation. The derived wind fields represent a unique case of meteorology in a rarified, volcanic atmosphere. Through the use of Doppler shift measurements in emission spectra obtained with the Atacama Large Millimeter/submillimeter Array between ~346 and 430 GHz (~0.70–0.87 mm), line-of-sight winds up to ~−100 m s−1in the approaching direction and >250 m s−1in the receding direction were derived for SO2at altitudes of ~10–50 km, while NaCl winds consistently reached ~∣150–200∣ m s−1in localized regions up to ~30 km above the surface. The wind distributions measured at maximum east and west Jovian elongations and on the sub-Jovian hemisphere pre- and posteclipse were found to be significantly different and complex, corroborating the results of simulations that include surface temperature and frost distribution, volcanic activity, and interactions with the Jovian magnetosphere. Further, the wind speeds of SO2and NaCl are often inconsistent in direction and magnitude, indicating that the processes that drive the winds for the two molecular species are different and potentially uncoupled; while the SO2wind field can be explained through a combination of sublimation-driven winds, plasma torus interactions, and plume activity, the NaCl winds appear to be primarily driven by the plasma torus.
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- Award ID(s):
- 2238344
- PAR ID:
- 10629512
- Publisher / Repository:
- The Astrophysical Journal Letters
- Date Published:
- Journal Name:
- The Astrophysical Journal Letters
- Volume:
- 978
- Issue:
- 1
- ISSN:
- 2041-8205
- Page Range / eLocation ID:
- L1
- Format(s):
- Medium: X
- Sponsoring Org:
- National Science Foundation
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