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Numerical simulations of the Shoemaker‐Levy 9 impact plumes and clouds: A progress report
Author(s) -
Shoemaker Eugene M.,
Hassig Paul J.,
Roddy David J.
Publication year - 1995
Publication title -
geophysical research letters
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.007
H-Index - 273
eISSN - 1944-8007
pISSN - 0094-8276
DOI - 10.1029/95gl01775
Subject(s) - plume , jovian , geology , panache , atmosphere (unit) , penetration (warfare) , jupiter (rocket family) , atmosphere of jupiter , atmospheric sciences , mechanics , meteorology , physics , astrophysics , astronomy , planet , space shuttle , operations research , saturn , engineering
Preliminary 2D/3D numerical simulations were carried out for the penetration of 1‐km bodies in the Jovian atmosphere and the subsequent rise and collapse of the erupted plumes. A body that crushed at a stagnation point pressure of 5 kbar produced a plume that rose to 800 km. Evolution of the shape of the calculated plume corresponds rather well to the plumes observed by HST. A crescent‐shaped lobe centered on the “backfire” azimuth was produced by lateral flow during plume collapse. The plumes observed on Jupiter rose about 4 times higher, and their rise and fall times were about twice those in this calculation. Plume height is a sensitive function of the distribution of energy along the entry path; a very low‐strength body will disintegrate higher along the penetration path and will produce a higher plume.