Neptune's Global Atmospheric Dynamics

AST-0908575 de Pater该奖项是根据2009年美国复苏和再投资法案（公法111-5）资助的。海王星的大气层是我们太阳系中最活跃的大气层之一，但它仍然受到很差的限制。 该项目将利用新的近红外和无线电波长观测数据，更好地了解这一大气层的全球环流。 凯克的自适应光学（AO）辅助积分场光谱仪OSIRIS将用于确定作为纬度函数的平均云高度，然后将其与AO光谱进行比较。 该团队已经建立了一个长期的宽带红外图像数据库，该数据库将用于调查自旅行者飞船飞越以来行星外观的可能变化。 碳氢化合物的空间分布（由中红外数据确定）和CO的空间分布（由毫米波天文学研究组合阵列（CARMA）测量）将共同提供有关海王星全球动力学的重要信息。这些数据经常激发天文学、地球物理学、化学和机械工程以及机构之间的跨学科合作。 观察员使用尖端仪器，帮助工程师调试和改进仪器。 行星社区之外的影响来自AO图像的强烈视觉吸引力，以及它们在讨论大气层时的使用，湍流的起源和克服模糊的技术。 除了向科学界进行通常的传播外，小组成员还定期在美国和国外向公众发表演讲，在更广泛的背景下介绍他们的研究。

AST-0908575de PaterThis award is funded under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (Public Law 111-5).Neptune's atmosphere is one of the most dynamically active atmospheres in our solar system, and yet it is still poorly constrained. This project will gain a better understanding of the global circulation in this atmosphere using new sets of observations at near-infrared and radio wavelengths. The adaptive-optics (AO) assisted integral-field spectrometer OSIRIS at Keck will be used to determine the average cloud altitude as a function of latitude, which can then be compared to AO spectra. The team already has a long-term database of broadband infrared images which will be used to investigate possible changes in the appearance of the planet since the Voyager spacecraft flyby. The spatial distribution of hydrocarbons, determined from mid-infrared data, and the spatial distribution of CO, measured with the Combined Array for Research in Millimeter-wave Astronomy (CARMA), together will yield important information on Neptune's global dynamics.These sorts of data often stimulate cross-disciplinary collaborations across astronomy, geo-physics, chemistry, and mechanical engineering, and between institutions. The observers make use of cutting-edge instrumentation, and help engineers debug and improve the instruments. Impacts beyond the planetary community come from the strong visual appeal of AO images, and their use when discussing the atmosphere, the origin of turbulence, and techniques to overcome blurring. As well as the usual dissemination to the scientific community, group members regularly give talks to the general public, in the US and abroad, featuring their research within a broader context.