Other
Scientific paper
Dec 1997
adsabs.harvard.edu/cgi-bin/nph-data_query?bibcode=1997hst..prop.7321l&link_type=abstract
HST Proposal ID #7321
Other
Hst Proposal Id #7321 Solar System
Scientific paper
Saturn's moon Titan has a thick, hazy atmosphere obscuring a surface that has only recently been observed in the near- infrared. Despite observations of surface albedo features, the nature of the surface remains hidden due to our imprecise knowledge of the atmosphere. All existing radiative transfer models of Titan's atmosphere {which are used to calculate surface albedos} are driven primarily by Titan's spectral geometric albedo, which is not spatially resolved. The models describe an atmosphere that does not exist: strong north- south variations that vary with wavelength from +18 global average; Titan is highly limb darkened at a few wavelengths, limb brightened at others, and has not been observed with spatial resolution at most wavelengths; the brightness of the atmosphere is a non-linear effect of the physical parameters, so a model of the average brightness is not an average model. We propose to obtain spatially and spectrally resolved observations of Titan sufficient to constrain the photometric and polarimetric properties of the atmosphere, and to use the information to generate a new, spatially resolved model of the atmosphere. The model will be used to interpret existing albedo maps of Titan, existing observations of clouds in Titan's troposphere, and existing and simultaneous observations of Titan's near-infrared light curve. This procedure will constrain the nature and composition of surface materials and help prepare for Cassini observations and Huygens in situ measurements.
No associations
LandOfFree
Spatially resolved multispectral investigation of Titan's troposphere and stratosphere 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 Spatially resolved multispectral investigation of Titan's troposphere and stratosphere, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Spatially resolved multispectral investigation of Titan's troposphere and stratosphere will most certainly appreciate the feedback.
Profile ID: LFWR-SCP-O-895460