The significance of pressure shifts for the interpretation of H2 quadrupole lines in planetary spectra

The effects of pressure shifts on the formation of H2 quadrupole absorption lines in the atmospheres of the major planets have not previously been considered. It is shown that, although pressure shifts have not been measured for the 3-0 and 4-0 H2 bands, they can be estimated from existing experimental and theoretical knowledge. Using these estimates, it is shown that the effect of pressure shifts is negligible for Jupiter and small for Saturn, but quite large for Uranus. Consideration of the shifts reduces H2 abundances determined for Uranus by from 25% to 50% as compared to calculations in which the shifts are ignored. The effect may be even larger for Neptune.