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We present a radiative transfer analysis of latitudinally resolved H(1.487-1.783 micron) and K (2.028-2.364 micron) band spectra of Uranus, fromwhich we infer the distributions of aerosols and methane in the planet'satmosphere. Data were acquired in 2001, 2002, 2004, 2005, and 2007 using the200-inch (5.1 m) Hale Telescope and the Palomar High Angular ResolutionObserver (PHARO) near-infrared adaptive optics (AO) camera system (Hayward,2001). Observations sample a range of latitudes between 80-deg S and 60-deg Non the Uranian disk. At each latitude, a vertical distributions of aerosols wasretrieved using a custom non-linear constrained retrieval algorithm. Two layersof aerosols are needed to match the observations: a thin upper layer peakingjust below the 100-mb tropopause and a lower clouds at ~1.9 bars. Latitudinalvariations in aerosols are interpreted in context of notional circulationmodels, while temporal changes suggest potential seasonal effects. We infersignificant reduction in aerosol scattering optical thickness in southernlatitudes between 2001 and 2007, in agreement with trends reported in studiescovering part of the same period using different data and retrieval algorithms(e.g., Irwin et al., 2009, 2010, 2012; Sromovsky et al., 2009). Best fits tothe data are consistent with proposed models of polar depletion of methane(e.g., Karkoschka and Tomasko, 2011). Finally, a discrete cloud from 2007 isanalyzed in context of simple parcel theory, with the goal of identifyinglikely formation mechanisms. The low scattering optical thicknesses of thediscrete high cloud are consistent with formation associated with vortices andshallow lift rather than deep convection.

Aerosols and Methane in the Ice Giant Atmospheres Inferred from Spatially Resolved, Near-Infrared Spectra: I. Uranus, 2001-2007