Program: GN-2013B-DD-3

Title:Linking Io's Volcanic Activity to Plasma Torus Variability
PI:Katherine de Kleer
Co-I(s): Imke de Pater, Ashley Davies

Abstract

This fall and winter, the ISAS/JAXA SPRINT-A/EXCEED mission will continuously monitor the Jovian system in the EUV, providing a truly unique opportunity to study the connection between volcanic activity on Io and variability in the plasma torus surrounding Jupiter. We propose to observe Io with ALTAIR/NIRI at 3.8 micron for 15 minutes on 12 nights throughout the semester, and analyze our results in conjunction with the results from the EXCEED mission to assess correlations between the temporal variability of Io's volcanic activity and the plasma torus. Due to the short (few month) observation window of the EXCEED mission and the extent of other ground-based support, both observations and publication are extremely time-sensitive. In addition, the recent detection of a vigorous eruption at Rarog Patera makes such observations particularly timely and interesting, and we request two specific observation dates coinciding with scheduled spectroscopic observations providing follow-up on the eruption.

Publications using this program's data