Physics
Scientific paper
Dec 2009
adsabs.harvard.edu/cgi-bin/nph-data_query?bibcode=2009agufm.p51g1194v&link_type=abstract
American Geophysical Union, Fall Meeting 2009, abstract #P51G-1194
Physics
[5419] Planetary Sciences: Solid Surface Planets / Hydrology And Fluvial Processes, [5464] Planetary Sciences: Solid Surface Planets / Remote Sensing, [6281] Planetary Sciences: Solar System Objects / Titan
Scientific paper
Data from the Cassini-Huygens mission have revealed fluvial networks on Titan’s surface. Past research found that fluvial sediment transport and erosion processes at the grain scale on Titan would be comparable to similar processes on Earth [1,2]. On this basis, we assume that basin-scale fluvial processes would also be similar to terrestrial processes and that analytical approaches derived for Earth would give meaningful results for Titan. An algorithm had been developed from terrestrial data to classify fluvial networks (e.g., as dendritic, rectangular, parallel, etc.) [3]. This algorithm was simplified and has been applied to classify networks in Cassini Titan Radar Mapper synthetic aperture radar (SAR) images of Titan [4,5]. It was also uncertain how much the direction of radar illumination impacted the interpretation of features visible in the imagery; overlapping radar swaths can provide useful information about that effect. We delineated channel/valley features on several radar swaths based on the distinguishability, morphology, and illumination [3]. In recently released data, at least 2 networks containing a minimum of 7 visible links or 3 junction angles were found in swaths T41 and T44, and were analyzed using the simplified algorithm [3]. T41 overlapped with T43, and T44 overlapped with T13, allowing comparison of network delineations and analysis of the effect of illumination angle on network classification. Channel delineation in overlap areas was compared, and differences were noted. The largest differences were attributed to human delineation error, poor effective resolution, or the directions of radar illumination (Figure 1). However, they did not affect the network classification; in both T13 and T44, the networks were classified as rectangular, which is commonly caused by subsurface tectonic activity. In contrast, the networks in T41 were classified as parallel, indicating variation in the controlling factors, such as steeper terrain or less tectonic influence. References: [1] Burr, D.M. et al (2006) Icarus, 181, 235-242. [2] Collins, G.C. Geophys. Res. Lett., 32 (22).[3] Ichoku, I. & Chorowicz, J. (1994) Water Resources Research, 30, 161-174. [4] Jacobsen, R.E. et al (2008) AGU abstract#P21A-1315 [5] Burr, D.M. et al (sub. 2009) Geophys. Res. Lett. Figure 1: Channel feature visible in T13 (left) was not readily apparent in T44 (right) due to the direction of radar illumination (see arrows).
Burr Devon M.
Phillips Cynthia B.
Viola Donna
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