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M. Mendillo (Boston University), I. Mueller-Wodarg (Imperial College), L. Moore (Boston University), R. Yelle (University of Arizona), M. Galand (Boston University), J. Forbes (University of Colorado), A. Aylward, G. Millward, S. Miller (University College London)
In preparation for the Cassini mission to Saturn, a global circulation model (GCM) for Saturn’s upper atmosphere is under development. Its initial components include solar heating and ionization. The resultant values for neutral temperatures and winds thus define the minimum levels produced without auroral and gravity wave heating. For the ionosphere, STIM currently provides the photo-chemical component of its diurnal and global morphology patterns. In addition, the effects of shadowing of sunlight by Saturn’s rings are included for the first time in a GCM. Approaches for the inclusion in STIM of tides and gravity wave heating of the thermosphere, auroral and Joule heating, thermal balance for ions and electron, plasma diffusion, electrodynamics, and plasmaspheric structure will be presented.
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Bulletin of the American Astronomical Society, 35 #4
© 2003. The American Astronomical Soceity.