Open AccessDirectional characteristics of thermal–infrared beaming from atmosphereless planetary surfaces – a new thermophysical model
Author(s) -
Rozitis B.,
Green S. F.
Publication year - 2011
Publication title -
monthly notices of the royal astronomical society
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.058
H-Index - 383
eISSN - 1365-2966
pISSN - 0035-8711
DOI - 10.1111/j.1365-2966.2011.18718.x
Subject(s) - surface roughness , thermal , physics , infrared , surface finish , albedo (alchemy) , thermal radiation , optics , geometric albedo , computational physics , wavelength , surface (topology) , astrophysics , materials science , geometry , stars , meteorology , thermodynamics , art , mathematics , photometry (optics) , performance art , composite material , art history
We present a new rough‐surface thermophysical model (Advanced Thermophysical Model or ATPM) that describes the observed directional thermal emission from any atmosphereless planetary surface. It explicitly incorporates partial shadowing, scattering of sunlight, self‐heating and thermal–infrared beaming (re‐radiation of absorbed sunlight back towards the Sun as a result of surface roughness). The model is verified by accurately reproducing ground‐based directional thermal emission measurements of the lunar surface using surface properties that are consistent with the findings of the Apollo missions and roughness characterized by an rms slope of ∼32°. By considering the wide range of potential asteroid surface properties, the model implies a beaming effect that cannot be described by a simple parameter or function. It is highly dependent on the illumination and viewing angles as well as surface thermal properties and is predominantly caused by macroscopic rather than microscopic roughness. Roughness alters the effective Bond albedo and thermal inertia of the surface as well as moving the mean emission away from the surface normal. For accurate determination of surface properties from thermal–infrared observations of unresolved bodies or resolved surface elements, roughness must be explicitly modelled, preferably aided with thermal measurements at different emission angles and wavelengths.