Less absorbed solar energy and more internal heat for Jupiter

• Published in: Nature communications 2018-09, Vol.9 (1), p.3709-10, Article 3709
• Main Authors: Li, Liming, Jiang, X., West, R. A., Gierasch, P. J., Perez-Hoyos, S., Sanchez-Lavega, A., Fletcher, L. N., Fortney, J. J., Knowles, B., Porco, C. C., Baines, K. H., Fry, P. M., Mallama, A., Achterberg, R. K., Simon, A. A., Nixon, C. A., Orton, G. S., Dyudina, U. A., Ewald, S. P., Schmude, R. W.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: 639/33/445/846; 704/445/846; Albedo; Dependence; Energy budget; Extrasolar planets; Food irradiation; Heat; Humanities and Social Sciences; Irradiance; Jupiter; multidisciplinary; Science; Science (multidisciplinary); Solar energy
• ISSN: 2041-1723; 2041-1723
• DOI: 10.1038/s41467-018-06107-2

The radiant energy budget and internal heat are fundamental properties of giant planets, but precise determination of these properties remains a challenge. Here, we report measurements of Jupiter’s radiant energy budget and internal heat based on Cassini multi-instrument observations. Our findings reveal that Jupiter’s Bond albedo and internal heat, 0.503 ± 0.012 and 7.485 ± 0.160 W m −2 respectively, are significantly larger than 0.343 ± 0.032 and 5.444 ± 0.425 Wm −2 , the previous best estimates. The new results help constrain and improve the current evolutionary theories and models for Jupiter. Furthermore, the significant wavelength dependency of Jupiter’s albedo implies that the radiant energy budgets and internal heat of the other giant planets in our solar system should be re-examined. Finally, the data sets of Jupiter’s characteristics of reflective solar spectral irradiance provide an observational basis for the models of giant exoplanets. Radiant energy budgets and internal heat play a key role in the evolution of planets. Here, the authors analyze data from the Cassini mission to show that Jupiter’s radiant energy and internal heat budgets are significantly larger than previous estimates.