Other
Scientific paper
May 1982
adsabs.harvard.edu/cgi-bin/nph-data_query?bibcode=1982jmole..18..150o&link_type=abstract
Journal of Molecular Evolution, vol. 18, May 1, 1982, p. 150-156.
Other
5
Atmospheric Composition, Atmospheric Models, Chemical Evolution, Satellite Atmospheres, Titan, Atmospheric Temperature, Planetary Atmospheres, Primitive Earth Atmosphere, Spectral Reflectance, Voyager 1 Spacecraft, Voyager 2 Spacecraft
Scientific paper
Progress in the investigation of the atmospheric composition of Titan prior to and following the Voyager observations is reviewed and a model for the origin of the atmosphere is proposed. Attempts to obtain and refine estimates of the the abundance of methane, the detection of which first indicated the presence of an atmosphere on Titan, are outlined, and two pre-Voyager models developed to explain spectral observations, corresponding to a pure-methane atmosphere in equilibrium with solid methane at a surface temperature of 86 K and a predominantly nitrogen atmosphere with traces of methane at about 200 K, are considered. The Voyager results are shown to be in better agreement with the second model, revealing a predominantly nitrogen atmosphere with methane a minor constituent, and C2H2, C2H4 and C2H6, and numerous other gases also present. The mean molecular weight of the atmosphere suggests the presence of a significant amount of a heavier gas, most probably argon, which may be understood by a model of atmospheric evolution by the degassing of a mixed hydrate dominated by CH4, N2 and Ar-36. Conditions inferred for Titan are similar to those presumed to have existed on the primitive earth prior to the emergence of life.
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