Other
Scientific paper
Dec 2006
adsabs.harvard.edu/cgi-bin/nph-data_query?bibcode=2006agufm.p21b..04k&link_type=abstract
American Geophysical Union, Fall Meeting 2006, abstract #P21B-04
Other
5210 Planetary Atmospheres, Clouds, And Hazes (0343)
Scientific paper
A rapid transition of the tholin particles scattering properties below approximately 80 km was observed by DISR during the descent of the Huygens probe. Single scattering albedo and volume extinction also show a stepwise increase. A self-consistent 1D microphysical model of the Titan tholin haze has been developed, involving photochemical production above 400 km, settling, eddy mixing and Brownian coagulation controlled by electric charge. The model is capable to calculate not only the aerosol size distribution but also the structural changes of particles, i.e. the combined distribution in cluster size and monomer size. The discontinuity of optical properties at the altitude about 80 km can be explained by the lack of mixing across the mesopause a thin but very stable layer due a strong thermal inversion. Particles seem to be fractal aggregates with monomer sizes of about 50 nm above this altitude, whereas below the particles generally appear smoother and larger, with a mean radius that exceeds 1 micron. The change of albedo and internal structure of the particles can only be explained within the model with additional assumptions concerning the physical nature of the particles. According to present knowledge there are no supersaturated condensable gases at these altitudes. The absence of scavenging rules out active condensation. Thus, it is suggested that the effects may be caused by capillary condensation of nitrogen within fine inhomogeneities of the fractal clusters. Probably adsorption accompanied by capillary condensation may take place below the mesopause. As the condensed mass of nitrogen is negligible compared to the particle mass, this process does not result in scavenging of aerosol particles although sharply changing their optical properties. Systematic investigations (model calculations) including optical properties are presented.
Grieger Bjoern
Rodin Vadim A.
Skorov Yuri
Tomasko Martin
Uwe Keller Horst
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