Alkali Metallicity, Mineral Clouds, and Deep Atmospheric Variability on Jupiter

Abstract

The bulk elemental abundances of Jupiter provide critical insights into its formation history and interior structure. Recent observations by the Juno Microwave Radiometer (MWR) reveal a deep Jovian atmosphere significantly depleted in electrons, implying an alkali metal (Na, K) abundance of 10^-1 - 10^-5 times solar. This depletion stands in sharp contrast to the supersolar volatile enrichments measured by the Galileo probe. We propose that this apparent depletion arises from mineral cloud-induced processes deep in the atmosphere. We explore two physical mechanisms using thermochemical and microphysical modeling. In the "chemical sequestration" scenario, vigorous vertical mixing lofts deep refractory condensates (e.g., spinel) into the 1000-2000 bar region, where they react to form alkali feldspars (albite) and feldspathoids (leucite), efficiently sequestering gaseous Na and K. In the "dust-catalyzed recombination" scenario, the bulk alkali inventory remains gaseous, but the free electron density is suppressed by dust-plasma interactions. Thermally emitted alkali ions from the surfaces of micron-sized iron and silicate grains significantly increase the cation density, driving rapid recombination of free electrons. Both mechanisms allow for a bulk solar or even supersolar alkali inventory while suppressing the electron density to match Juno observations. Analyzing an extended dataset of MWR observations with 61 perijoves, we detect spatial variability in the deep atmosphere that suggests modulation by mineral clouds. Our findings challenge the traditional rainout framework, unveiling a deep "mineralogical zone" in Jupiter shaped by dynamics and heterogeneous chemistry, resembling the photospheres of hot exoplanets and brown dwarfs.