The Stratification of Jupiter's Troposphere at the Galileo Probe Entry Site

Galileo Probe Atmospheric Structure Investigation (ASI) pressure and temperature sensor data acquired during the parachute descent phase have been used to derive the static stability structure of Jupiter's troposphere at pressure levels of 0.5–22 bars using three techniques. The first approach utilizes both the p-sensor and T-sensor data, but since the p-sensor's zero offset was significantly affected by the thermal anomaly in the probe, two other approaches using only T-sensor data have also been developed. By making the physically reasonable assumptions of equilibrium descent for the probe and hydrostatic balance of the atmosphere, an algorithm for deriving the background static stability from T-sensor measurements alone is developed. Regions with static stability 0.1–0.2 K km −1 are found at 0.5–1.7 bars, 3–8.5 bars, and 14–20 bars. Between these layers, regions of weaker static stability are present. Mean molecular weight gradients due to the vertical variation of water vapor abundance near the 11-bar pressure level appear to stabilize the atmosphere at this level. Oscillatory structures with vertical wavelength ∼15–30 km and amplitude ∼0.1–0.2 K are observed in the T-sensor data. For pressure