Cassini imaging of Titan's high-latitude lakes, clouds, and south-polar surface changes

Details Cassini imaging of Titan's high-latitude lakes, clouds, and south-polar surface changes Cassini imaging of Titan's high-latitude lakes, clouds, and south-polar surface changes

Jan 2009

adsabs.harvard.edu/cgi-bin/nph-data_query?bibcode=2009georl..3602204t&link_type=abstract

Geophysical Research Letters, Volume 36, Issue 2, CiteID L02204

Biology

49

Planetary Sciences: Solar System Objects: Titan, Planetary Sciences: Solid Surface Planets: Hydrology And Fluvial Processes, Planetary Sciences: Solid Surface Planets: Atmospheres (0343, 1060), Planetary Sciences: Solid Surface Planets: Meteorology (3346), Planetary Sciences: Astrobiology: Planetary Atmospheres, Clouds, And Hazes (0343)

Scientific paper

Cassini's Imaging Science Subsystem (ISS) has been observing Titan since April 2004, compiling a nearly global surface map and monitoring the surface and atmosphere for activity. Early images of the south-polar region revealed numerous dark surface features and contemporaneous convective cloud systems, suggesting the presence of hydrocarbon lakes similar to those later detected at Titan's North Pole. Intriguingly, repeated south-polar imaging by ISS revealed differences consistent with ponding of hydrocarbon liquids on the surface due to precipitation from a large storm. More recent ISS images of high northern latitudes illustrate the full extents (>500,000 km2) of hydrocarbon seas, sections of which have been observed by Cassini's RADAR. These observations demonstrate dynamic processes at work on Titan and that the poles harbor liquid-hydrocarbon reservoirs, the extents of which differ from pole to pole and which may be coupled to seasonally varying circulation.

Affiliated with

Also associated with

No associations

Rating

Cassini imaging of Titan's high-latitude lakes, clouds, and south-polar surface changes 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 Cassini imaging of Titan's high-latitude lakes, clouds, and south-polar surface changes, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Cassini imaging of Titan's high-latitude lakes, clouds, and south-polar surface changes will most certainly appreciate the feedback.

Rate now

Comments { 0 }

Profile ID: LFWR-SCP-O-1808161