A BASE-LINE SPECTROSCOPIC STUDY OF THE INFRARED AURORAS OF JUPITER

We present the results of a spectroscopic study of the H-3(+) infrared emissions of Jupiter, obtained using the United Kingdom Infrared Tele scope (UKIRT) on Mauna Kea, Hawaii, during May 3-5, 1993, Although we have obtained data from the whole of the planet, in this paper we conc entrate on the auroral regions. Derived H-3(+) temperatures for these vary between 700 and 1000 K, and column densities are of the order of 10(12) cm(-2). There is a strong (anti-)correlation between these para meters, however, that requires the introduction of new variables to ch aracterize the jovian auroras fully. The total H-3(+) auroral emission is presented as a function of central meridian longitude. A simple ge ometric model of this emission does not describe the data adequately, The integrated infrared auroral emission in each hemisphere is of the order of a few x 10(12) W, making it comparable to auroral output in t he ultraviolet. (C) 1997 Academic Press.