Interaction of gravity waves with ionospheric plasma: Implications for Jupiter's ionosphere

The J0-ingress radio occultation of the Galileo orbiter by Jupiter exhibits a system of well-defined, regularly spaced electron layers in the altitude range where the presence of gravity waves have been previously inferred. Based on the terrestrial analog of sporadic E and spread F ionospheric layers, we argue that the observed layers are a result of dynamical processes rather than chemistry. We consider the impact of upward propagating gravity waves on the plasma distribution in a H+ dominated ionosphere. The relevant physics is discussed and illustrated with an analytic, small-amplitude model. A time-dependent, 2D, large-amplitude model is developed to simulate the observed large excursions in the J0-electron density profile. We show that gravity waves with parameters consistent with the thermal structure of Jupiter's upper atmosphere are capable of creating large peaks in the electron density similar to the observed ones. The ionospheric response is extremely anisotropic with respect to the direction of wave propagation. We demonstrate that the location of the J0-ingress radio occultation on Jupiter favors large ionospheric response for waves propagating along the magnetic meridian. A wave driven plasma flux results in plasma removal above the altitude of maximum ionospheric response and plasma deposition in the region below, significantly modifying the initial steady state electron density profile. (C) 2001 Academic Press.