Physics
Scientific paper
Apr 2010
adsabs.harvard.edu/cgi-bin/nph-data_query?bibcode=2010ttt..work...35l&link_type=abstract
Through Time; A Workshop On Titan's Past, Present and Future, NASA Goddard Space Flight Center, April 6th - 8th, 2010. Edited b
Physics
Scientific paper
Understanding the aerosols on Titan is imperative for understanding the atmosphere as a whole. The aerosols affect the albedo, optical depth, and heating and cooling rates which in turn affects the winds on Titan. Correctly representing them in atmospheric models is crucial to understanding this atmosphere. Several groups have used GCMs to model Titan's atmosphere. Hourdin et al. (1995) were able to reproduce the super-rotating prograde winds. Rannou et al. (2004) found the aerosols accumulated at the poles, which increased the temperature gradient. The increased temperature gradient intensified the zonal winds. Friedson et al. (2009) produced a three- dimensional model for Titan using the NCAR CAM3 model, to which we coupled the aerosol microphysics model CARMA. Until now, there has not been a three- dimensional model that couples radiation, dynamics and aerosol microphysics to study the atmospheric properties of Titan. We have also made the aerosols produced by CARMA interactive with the radiation code in CAM. Preliminary results show that this model is capable of reproducing the seasonal changes in aerosols on Titan and many of the associated phenomena. For instance, the radiatively interactive aerosols are lifted more in the summer hemisphere than the non-interactive aerosols, which is necessary to reproduce the observed seasonal cycle of the albedo (Hutzell et al 1996). However, treating aerosols as spheres with Mie theory is inconsistent with laboratory and observational data that suggest the aerosols are fractal aggregates. We are currently incorporating fractal particle physics into the model. Changing the particles to fractals will affect the radiative properties of the particles, their distribution in the atmosphere, and should improve our fits to the data.
Larson Erik J.
Toon Brian O.
No associations
LandOfFree
Seasonal cycles on Titan from a Coupled Aerosol Microphysical and Global Circulation Model 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 Seasonal cycles on Titan from a Coupled Aerosol Microphysical and Global Circulation Model, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Seasonal cycles on Titan from a Coupled Aerosol Microphysical and Global Circulation Model will most certainly appreciate the feedback.
Profile ID: LFWR-SCP-O-1191413