The Origin and Consequences of Steep-Sided Crater Lakes on Titan

Details The Origin and Consequences of Steep-Sided Crater Lakes on Titan The Origin and Consequences of Steep-Sided Crater Lakes on Titan

Sep 2006

adsabs.harvard.edu/cgi-bin/nph-data_query?bibcode=2006dps....38.5205m&link_type=abstract

American Astronomical Society, DPS meeting #38, #52.05; Bulletin of the American Astronomical Society, Vol. 38, p.579

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Scientific paper

Cassini radar imagery obtained during the 22nd July 2006 (T16) Titan fly-by reveals the presence of lakes at >70° N (Wall et al., this volume). Several are in relatively steep-sided depressions, contrasting with other lakes in this region that exhibit no pronounced topography at this scale. We postulate based on the arguments in Wood et al. (this volume) that these depressions existed prior to being filled with fluids, and find that a volcanic origin, rather than chemical dissolution or impact, is most likely. A caldera is the preferred interpretation, on the basis of geomorphology, scale, and the lack of need to introduce novel chemical processes.
Despite plentiful lakes in this region, there appear to be relatively few fluvial channels supplying them in contrast with other regions. We suggest that: (1) unlike at lower latitudes, precipitation is dominated by gentle rain, possibly ethane-rich, which would fill lakes gradually without high flow rates characteristic of storms that carve broad river channels; and/or (2) the crust is porous, accommodating sub-surface flow in a manner akin to terrestrial groundwater systems, in which case we might expect lake surfaces to follow an equipotential surface, which should be possible to test with stereo data following future fly-bys.
The presence of calderas here, and in the Ta scene, lends credence to the use of terrestrial analogs for volcanic processes on Titan. The implication is that magma stalls at buoyancy/density traps in the upper crust to form magma chambers. If residence times are sufficiently long, then pre-eruptive cooling and differentiation of cryomagmas would occur. Therefore, relative to deeper-sourced eruptions, they would be richer in ammonia and/or methanol, and less prone to solidification during ascent. If volcanic and lacustrine environments are concurrent, then geothermal systems rich in organic materials may provide suitable conditions for the emergence of life.

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