Physics – Optics
Scientific paper
Sep 2009
adsabs.harvard.edu/cgi-bin/nph-data_query?bibcode=2009dps....41.3302s&link_type=abstract
American Astronomical Society, DPS meeting #41, #33.02
Physics
Optics
Scientific paper
In April 2008 we observed the largest brightening of Titan's tropospheric clouds seen in over three years. These clouds were located at southern tropical and mid-latitudes (12S-40S) and lasted for approximately one month before Titan resumed typical low levels of cloud activity. Increased cloud activity was first detected by our Titan IRTF spectral monitoring program and was subsequently observed in Gemini adaptive optics images until May 2008. Titan general circulation models have predicted that the majority of convective cloud activity should occur near the summer poles, with some activity occurring at mid-latitudes, and very little in the tropics (eg. Rannou et al. 2006, Mitchell et al. 2006). Our observations show that large cloud systems do occasionally form in Titan's tropical latitudes. Methane rain from these large cloud systems may help explain the presence of small-scale channels and riverbeds seen in Huygens images near the equator.
In addition to tropical clouds, 3-7 earth days following the initial onset of cloud activity, we also observed clouds near Titan's south pole. The south pole had previously been essentially cloud-free as seen from ground-based telescopes since 2005. The appearance of relatively bright south polar clouds just days after the largest increase in Titan cloud activity observed in over three years points to a causal relationship. The south polar clouds were likely instigated by an atmospheric teleconnection mediated by planetary Rossby waves, formed from the initial pulse of cloud activity that occurred in the tropics. Understanding Titan's methane-based meteorological cycle, including the causes and frequencies of these large cloud events and their subsequent evolution across the moon, holds the key for interpreting the fluvial surface features seen on Titan's surface by the Cassini and Huygens Spacecraft.
Brown Michael E.
Roe Henry Garfitt
Schaller Emily L.
Schneider Tapio
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