Physics
Scientific paper
Oct 2010
adsabs.harvard.edu/cgi-bin/nph-data_query?bibcode=2010dps....42.3621t&link_type=abstract
American Astronomical Society, DPS meeting #42, #36.21; Bulletin of the American Astronomical Society, Vol. 42, p.1069
Physics
Scientific paper
Methane-nitrogen containing clouds are known to be present in the troposphere of Titan. However, their formation mechanism and chemical properties remain poorly known. One major difficulty is due to the lack of laboratory constraints, resulting in great uncertainties in modeling cloud formation using microphysical models. Recently CH4-N2 clouds are synthesized in lab under conditions similar to that of Titan, providing a crucial constraint for microphysics model. In this study, a detail microphysical model is developed and used to analyze nucleation and condensation processes occurred in the troposphere of Titan. Sensitivity for the most probable unary and binary nucleation pathways and the subsequent condensation growth of particles is performed based on observed chemical and thermodynamic conditions of Titan's atmosphere. The model is first validated using a laboratory simulation. Comparing to laboratory results, our model simulation shows that binary nucleation from CH4 and N2 produces reasonable particle number concentration as in Titan's atmosphere when appropriate accommodation coefficient for vapor condensation is applied. Applying this detailed model to a model Titan atmosphere, clouds can be formed between 10-30 km, depending on the updraft velocity, with particle sizes of 1-10 μm. These results provide not only information of the size and composition of particles in Titan's atmosphere but also help to design laboratory experiments for measuring critical thermodynamic parameters relevant to the particle production mechanisms, as well as for interpreting observations.
Chen Jiahua
Liang Manlai
Tsai I.-Chun
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