Clathrate hydrates as a trapping mechanism of noble gases in Titan's atmosphere

Details Clathrate hydrates as a trapping mechanism of noble gases in Titan's atmosphere Clathrate hydrates as a trapping mechanism of noble gases in Titan's atmosphere

Jul 2007

adsabs.harvard.edu/cgi-bin/nph-data_query?bibcode=2007sf2a.conf..425t&link_type=abstract

SF2A-2007: Proceedings of the Annual meeting of the French Society of Astronomy and Astrophysics held in Grenoble, France, July

Astronomy and Astrophysics

Astrophysics

Scientific paper

In January 2005, Huygens probe landed on Saturn's largest Moon, Titan. The atmospheric measurements carried out during the descent of the probe showed that, except for some tiny amounts of 36Ar, no other primordial noble gases were detected in Titan's atmosphere : their mole fractions may be smaller than the GCMS instrument's sensibility (Niemann et al. 2005). It has been recently proposed that the formation of clathrate hydrates on the surface of Titan may act as a sink for atmospheric gases (Osegovic & Max 2005). In the case of noble gases, their trapping in such hydrates can deeply modify their atmospheric concentration. To test this hypothesis, we have used the model of van der Waals & Platteeuw (1959) to calculate the relative abundance of noble gases in clathrate hydrates on the surface of Titan. We show there is a strong correlation between the evolution of Titan's climate and the efficiency of the noble gases trapping in hydrates. Moreover, we find that, when the Titan's atmospheric temperature and pressure conditions decrease, the capture of Kr and Xe in hydrates becomes more efficient, whereas that of Ar diminishes.

Affiliated with

Also associated with

No associations

Rating

Clathrate hydrates as a trapping mechanism of noble gases in Titan's atmosphere 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 Clathrate hydrates as a trapping mechanism of noble gases in Titan's atmosphere, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Clathrate hydrates as a trapping mechanism of noble gases in Titan's atmosphere will most certainly appreciate the feedback.

Rate now

Comments { 0 }

Profile ID: LFWR-SCP-O-790066