The microwave properties of the jovian clouds: A new model for the complex dielectric constant of aqueous ammonia

A new model for the complex dielectric constant of aqueous ammonia (NH4OH) under conditions characteristic of the jovian clouds has been developed. The new model is based on laboratory measurements in the frequency range between 2 and 8.5 GHz for ammonia concentrations of 0-8.5% by volume and temperatures between 274 and 297 K. The new model is based on the Meissner and Wentz (Meissner, T., Wentz, F.J. [2004]. IEEE Trans. Geosci. Rem. Sens. 42, 1836-1849) model of the complex dielectric constant of pure water but contains corrections for dissolved ammonia. Assuming Raleigh scattering, these measurements are applied to a cloud attenuation model to calculate the range of opacity of the jovian aqueous ammonia clouds. These measurements will improve our understanding of the data collected by the Juno microwave radiometer (MWR) by better characterizing the absorption properties of the aqueous ammonia present in the jovian atmosphere. The new model has been validated for temperatures up to 313 K, and may be consistently used for the expected conditions for aqueous clouds in all of the outer planets. The model fits 60.26% of all laboratory measurements within 2-sigma uncertainty. Descriptions of the experimental setups, uncertainties associated with the laboratory measurements, the model fitting process, the new model, and its application to approximating jovian cloud opacity are provided. (C) 2013 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.