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To purchase or authenticate to the full-text of this article, please visit this link: http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/j.1523-1739.2006.00569.x Byline: Jeremy A. Martinich (*s.), Susan L. Solarz ([dagger]), James R. Lyons ([double dagger]) Author Affiliation: (*)Department of Environmental Studies, American University, 101 Hurst Hall, Washington, D.C. 20016, U.S.A. ([dagger])The Wilderness Society, 350 N 9th Street Suite 302, Boise, ID 83702, U.S.A. ([double dagger])Yale School of Forestry and Environmental Studies, 1425 K St. NW, Suite 1050, Washington, D.C. 20005, U.S.A. Article History: Paper submitted October 19, 2005; revised manuscript accepted May 2, 2006. Article note: (s.) Current address: 3525 Davenport St. NW, Apartment 405, Washington, D.C. 20008, U.S.A., email littlemarty33@yahoo.com

Microwave propagation experiments performed with Voyager 2 at Neptune revealed sharp layers of electrons in Neptune's lower ionosphere with densities of [is nearly equal to] [10.sup.4] per cubic centimeter. These layers are reminiscent of the sporadic-E layers in the Earth's ionosphere, sphere, and when taken together with data from the other giant planets,these data confirm the importance of the magnetic field in layer formation. A photochemical model that incorporates species produced by meteoroid ablation predicts that singly ionized magnesium is the most likely metal to be found in the layers, although laboratory data on the kinetics of metallic atoms and ions in a reducing environment are lacking. The metal chemistry discussed here is directly relevant to the abundant metals observed at the impact site of the G fragment of comet Shoemaker Levy 9 on Jupiter., With the completion of the planetary component of the Voyager mission (1), we now have spacecraft data for nine ionospheres in the solar system. These data, together with the wealth [...]

If the upper atmosphere and ionosphere of Triton are controlled by precipitation of electrons from Neptune's magnetosphere as previously proposed, Triton could have the only ionosphere in the solar system [...]