Saturn’s North Polar Region
A work in progress
R. West

FUV Long-wave and Ly-α
2013 DOY 203 EUVFUV
5 hour 24 minute duration
1712-1910 Å Ly-α

FUV + Polarization

FUV + Polarization

FUV + Polarization

FUV + Polarization

FUV + Polarization

FUV + Polarization

FUV + Methane/Continuum Ratio

FUV + Methane/Continuum Ratio

FUV + Methane/Continuum Ratio

Polar Haze as a Tracer for Dynamics

Haze Formation – Auroral Chemistry on Methane and Acetylene

Summary
• Saturn’s north polar hexagon forms a boundary – inside the
‘longwave’ UV absorption is high, the near-IR polarization is high
• Reflectivity in methane bands is similar inside and outside the boundary
• The boundary is close to Saturn’s auroral deposition zone, suggesting enhanced hydrocarbon aerosol formation within the boundary coupled with confinement
• No evidence for Rossby waves at the boundary, unlike for
Jupiter
• This is a progress report – more and quantitative modeling to be done in the near future.