Astronomy and Astrophysics – Astronomy
Scientific paper
Oct 2010
adsabs.harvard.edu/cgi-bin/nph-data_query?bibcode=2010dps....42.5509l&link_type=abstract
American Astronomical Society, DPS meeting #42, #55.09; Bulletin of the American Astronomical Society, Vol. 42, p.1077
Astronomy and Astrophysics
Astronomy
Scientific paper
Cassini Radar and near-IR measurements from the Visual and Infrared Mapping Spectrometer (VIMS) demonstrate the existence of liquids on Titan's surface. Bodies of liquid at high latitudes are revealed in Radar images as radar-dark features with lacustrine characteristics. Near-IR spectroscopy confirmed their liquid nature, although not through features due to the primary liquid component, methane. Such a detection is too challenging because the atmospheric opacity is also due primarily to methane. However, ethane, which exists as a component of the methane-ethane lakes, has a feature at 2 microns, a spectral region where the atmospheric opacity is low enough to allow visibility to the surface. Cassini VIMS data indicated the presence of this 2 micron ethane feature in the radar-dark region Ontario Lacus, confirming that this body is a lake in Titan's south polar region (Brown et al. 2008). What is most notable about the liquids on Titan's surface is that they have been detected only at high north and south polar latitudes. Most Titan general circulation models explain this polar concentration of liquids as resulting from a quick transport of liquids from low to high latitudes, implying a generally dry equatorial region. We, however, have found preliminary evidence of surface ethane at tropical latitudes on Titan, through the detection of the ethane feature at 2 microns in VIMS spectral images of certain tropical terrains. Our observations raise questions regarding the source and transport of methane and ethane in Titan's atmosphere and on Titan's surface.
Griffith Caitlin A.
Lora Juan
Penteado Paulo
Turner Jonathan
No associations
LandOfFree
Evidence For Ethane On Titan's Tropical Surface does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this scientific paper.
If you have personal experience with Evidence For Ethane On Titan's Tropical Surface, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Evidence For Ethane On Titan's Tropical Surface will most certainly appreciate the feedback.
Profile ID: LFWR-SCP-O-1230135