Jupiter's magnetospheric change by Io's volcanoes

• Published in: Geophysical research letters Vol. 37; no. 11
• Main Authors: Yoneda, M., Nozawa, H., Misawa, H., Kagitani, M., Okano, S.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Washington, DC Blackwell Publishing Ltd 01.06.2010; American Geophysical Union; John Wiley & Sons, Inc
• Subjects: Atmospheric sciences; Brightness; Density; Earth sciences; Earth, ocean, space; Exact sciences and technology; Ion temperature; Jupiter; Magnetic fields; Magnetism; magnetosphere; Scale height; Sodium; Tubes; Volcanoes; Magnetic flux; Plasma; magnetic field; Temperature scale; Io; Torus; volcanoes; monitoring; Plasma density; duration; Ion flux; sodium; Jupiter; brightness; Ion temperature; Flux tube; Ion density; Height; ions
• ISSN: 0094-8276; 1944-8007
• DOI: 10.1029/2010GL043656

Monitoring observations of Jupiter's sodium nebula and [SII] 673.1 nm emission from the Io plasma torus were made for 20 days in 2003. During these observations, the brightness of the sodium nebula showed a small enhancement which seemed to be caused by Io's volcanic outburst. During this enhancement, [SII] 673.1 nm brightness and the ion temperature (scale height) along Jupiter's magnetic fields did not show any significant change, but magnetic flux tube content of S+ ion was calculated from the [SII] 673.1 nm brightness and the scale height, and an increase of the ion flux tube content was clearly identified. Thus, increase of supplied plasma from Io seems to be reflected in both plasma density and ion temperature. We conclude that Io's volcanic enhancement with a duration time of a few days can change Jupiter's inner magnetospheric environment in aspects of both ion density and temperature.