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Multi-level modeling of Pluto's surface and atmosphere. Young, Buie, Young & Olkin. Multi-level modeling of Pluto's surface and atmosphere. Goal - PowerPoint PPT Presentation
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MULTI-LEVEL MODELING OF PLUTO'S SURFACE AND ATMOSPHERE
Young, Buie, Young & Olkin
Multi-level modeling of Pluto's surface and atmosphere
Goal Understand Pluto, make predictions for the New Horizons
flyby, and position ourselves to capitalize on funding for Pluto research, which will be a hot topic for the next several years
Basic idea We have developed a new SwRI model of Pluto’s seasons,
which can be used in four papers with high impact. Big Picture
This will establish the dominance of our group in seasonal modeling of Pluto and other icy bodies, and interpretation of their visible, thermal, and infrared data.
Technical background
Transport of Volatile N2
Between surface and atmosphere
From summer to winter Observables
Visible appearance Temperatures Infrared (IR) spectra Time variation of these
quantities Context for New
Horizons
Role of volatile transport on Pluto
About a meter of N2 migrates each season.
Pressures vary by orders of magnitude over Pluto’s season. The history of atmospheric pressure depends critically on the location of the volatiles.
Volatile migration with albedo feedback probably explains why Pluto has extreme albedo contrasts.
VT3D example 1 of 3:Low thermal inertia, low N2 inventory
VT3D example 2 of 3:Low thermal inertia, larger N2 inventory
VT3D example 1 of 3:high thermal inertia, high N2 inventory
Proposal background
2010/2011: began numeric framework for three-dimensional volatile transport (VT3D)
2012: submitted first model description paper Young 2012: Volatile transport on inhomogeneous surfaces:
I – Analytic expressions, with application to Pluto’s day 2012: submited first data-driven paper
Young 2012, Pluto’s Seasons: New Predictions for New Horizons
Mostly compares modeled pressured with stellar occultation constraints on time variability of Pluto’s atmosphere
This work used minor funds from NASA Planetary Atmospheres, NASA Planetary Astronomy, Spitzer, New Horizons.
Work proposed here for 2013/2014
Apr-Jun 2013: submit VT3D paper & release code
Jul-Sep 2013: compare with visible data Oct-Dec 2013: compare with thermal
data Jan-Mar 2014: compare with infrared
data
Task 1: Disseminate VT3D model
Model Strengths Speed Accuracy Flexibility Visualization Wide
applicability to Pluto, Triton, and Kuiper-belt objects (KBOs)
Publish Model Release code
Task 2: Compare visible data & model Model
Color & albedo depends on terrain, age
Variation with latitude & longitude
Constraining Observations Albedo Color
Task 3: Compare thermal data & model Model
Emissivity depends on terrain, age, deposition rate
Variation with latitude & longitude
Observations Thermal
lightcurves vs. wavelength and year
Task 4: Compare infrared data & model Model
Spectra depends on terrain, age, temperature, deposition rate
Variation with latitude & longitude
Observations Spectra & band
depth vs. longitude and year
Timeline and milestones
Areas of risk and risk mitigation Risk: Competition by other volatile transport models
C. Hansen: revival of 1996 Pluto seasonal models F. Forget: volatile transport element in Global Climate
Models New work relating to the safety of New Horizons risks
delaying the completion of our models, which opens us up to the danger of being outstripped by others
Mitigation VT3D is faster and more flexible than competitors models. Use a mix of junior and senior scientists.
1 hour of senior per 5.5 hour of junior personnel Four well-defined, focused projects
Quick publication of high impact papers Make code publically available to dominate this field
Benefits to SwRI
Establish a competitive edge for SwRI Pluto scientists Develop and demonstrate state-of-the-art models Ensure high visibility
Capitalize on Pluto-related funding A specific NASA Pluto Data Analysis Program is planned Competition shows level of high importance and
interest of Pluto volatile transport Experience shows that spacecraft encounters generate
interest (and funding). We expect NASA, NSF, and telescope allocation committees will be favorably disposed to proposals to study Pluto and related objects (Triton and Kuiper-belt objects).