6 research outputs found
MagnetosphereâIonosphereâThermosphere coupling at Jupiter using a threeâdimensional atmospheric general circulation model
Jupiter's upper atmosphere is âŒ700 K hotter than predicted based on solar extreme ultraviolet heating alone. The reason for this still remains a mystery and is known as the âenergy crisis.â It is thought that the interaction between Jupiter and its dynamic magnetosphere plays a vital role in heating its atmosphere to the observed temperatures. Here, we present a new model of Jupiter's magnetosphereâionosphereâthermosphereâcoupled system where we couple a threeâdimensional atmospheric general circulation model to an axisymmetric magnetosphere model. We find that the model temperatures are on average âŒ60 K, with a maximum of âŒ200 K, hotter than the model's twoâdimensional predecessor making our highâlatitude temperatures comparable to the lower limit of observations. Stronger meridional winds now transport more heat from the auroral region to the equator increasing the equatorial temperatures. However, despite this increase, the modeled equatorial temperatures are still hundreds of kelvins colder than observed. We use this model as an intermediate step toward a threeâdimensional atmospheric model coupled to a realistic magnetosphere model with zonal and radial variation