Using Schumann resonance measurements for constraining the water abundance on the giant planets - Implications for the solar system's formation

International audienceThe formation and evolution of the solar system is closely related to the abundance of volatiles, namely water, ammonia, and methane in the protoplanetary disk. Accurate measurement of volatiles in the solar system is therefore important for understanding not only the nebular hypothesis and origin of life but also planetary cosmogony as a whole. In this work, we propose a new remote sensing technique to infer the outer planets' water content by measuring Tremendously and Extremely Low Frequency (TLF–ELF) electromagnetic wave characteristics (Schumann resonances) excited by lightning in their gaseous envelopes. Schumann resonance detection can be potentially used for constraining the uncertainty of volatiles of the giant planets, mainly Uranus and Neptune, because such TLF–ELF wave signatures are closely related to the electric conductivity profile and water content. Key words: planets and satellites: composition – planets and satellites: formation – planets and satellites: physical evolution – protoplanetary disks – space vehicles: instruments – waves Online-only material: color figure