HR: 0800h
AN: P31A-0183    [Abstracts]
TI: The Source of Heavy Element Enrichments on Saturn and the Other Giant Planets
AU: * Owen, T C
EM: owen@ifa.hawaii.edu
AF: University of Hawaii, 2680 Woodlawn Drive, Honolulu, HI 96822, United States
AU: Encrenaz, T
EM: therese.encrenaz@obspm.fr
AF: Obs de Paris, DESPA, Meudon, F-92195, France
AB: We have developed a simple, top-down model for the initial composition of giant planets that explains the observed enrichment of heavy elements on Jupiter. It offers a new application of the pioneering work of Mizuno on giant planet structure. This model correctly predicted the enhancement of Carbon in Saturn's methane subsequently observed by CIRS on Cassini. It makes verifiable predictions for the other heavy elements on this planet that would provide a useful constraint on models for Saturn's interior. Predictions for Uranus and Neptune are consistent with the highly uncertain enrichments of C/H on these planets; they agree well with the better- determined values of D/H. The model implies the existence of a large mass of primitive icy planetesimals in the plane of the early solar nebula.
DE: 6200 PLANETARY SCIENCES: SOLAR SYSTEM OBJECTS
SC: Planetary Sciences [P]
MN: 2007 Fall Meeting