Abstract
Voyager 1 high latitude and Pioneer 11 equatorial ionospheric structure indicate a solar EUV-controlled ionosphere with a possible molecular ion in the topside. Vibrationally excited H2 in the high latitudes may be an important loss mechanism. Dynamical effects are expected to be important for determining the peak density and its location.
This is a preview of subscription content, access via your institution
Access options
Subscribe to this journal
Receive 51 print issues and online access
$199.00 per year
only $3.90 per issue
Buy this article
- Purchase on Springer Link
- Instant access to full article PDF
Prices may be subject to local taxes which are calculated during checkout
References
Tyler, G. L. et al. Science 212, 201–206 (1981).
Kliore, A. J., Lindal, G. F., Patel, I. R., Sweetnam, D. N. & Hotz, H. B. Science 207, 446–449 (1980).
Broadfoot, A. L. et al. Science 212, 206–211 (1981).
Atreya, S. K., Donahue, T. M. & Festou, M. C. Astrophys. J. Lett. 247, L43–L47 (1981).
Festou, M. C. et al. J. geophys. Res. 86, 5715–5725 (1981).
Atreya, S. K. & Donahue, T. M. Jupiter (ed. Gehrels, T.) 304–318 (The University of Arizona Press, 1976).
Waite, J. H. Jr thesis, Univ. Michigan (1981).
Hunten, D. M. J. Atmos. Sci. 26, 826–834 (1969).
Wallace, L. & Hunten, D. M. Astrophys. J. 182, 1013–1031 (1973).
Atreya, S. K., Donahue, T. M. & Waite, J. H. Jr Nature 280, 795–796 (1979).
Bates, D. R. & Dalgarno, A. Electronic Recombination, Atomic and Molecular Processes (ed. Bates, D. R.) 245 (Academic, New York, 1962).
Kliore, A. J. et al. J. geophys. Res. 85, 5857–5870 (1980).
Cravens, T. D. thesis, Harvard Univ. (1974).
Shimizu, M. Proc. 13th Lunar planet. Symp. (Institute of Space and Aeronautical Science, University of Tokyo, 1980).
Banks, P. M. & Kockarts, G. in Aeronomy Part B, 170 (Academic, New York, 1973).
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Atreya, S., Waite, J. Saturn ionosphere: theoretical interpretation. Nature 292, 682–683 (1981). https://doi.org/10.1038/292682a0
Received:
Accepted:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/292682a0
This article is cited by
-
Solar System Ionospheres
Space Science Reviews (2008)
-
New model of Saturn's ionosphere with an influx of water from the rings
Nature (1984)
-
Atmospheric storm explanation of saturnian electrostatic discharges
Nature (1983)
-
Saturn's ionosphere: A corona of ice particles?
The Moon and the Planets (1983)