Two boundary layers in Titan's lower troposphere inferred from a climate model

Details Two boundary layers in Titan's lower troposphere inferred from a climate model Two boundary layers in Titan's lower troposphere inferred from a climate model

Feb 2012

adsabs.harvard.edu/cgi-bin/nph-data_query?bibcode=2012natge...5..106c&link_type=abstract

Nature Geoscience, Volume 5, Issue 2, pp. 106-109 (2012).

Computer Science

Scientific paper

Saturn's moon Titan has a dense atmosphere, but its thermal structure is poorly known. Conflicting information has been gathered on the nature, extent and evolution of Titan's planetary boundary layer--the layer of the atmosphere that is influenced by the surface--from radio-occultation observations by the Voyager 1 spacecraft and the Cassini orbiter, measurements by the Huygens probe and by dune-spacing analyses. Specifically, initial analyses of the Huygens data suggested a boundary layer of 300m depth with no diurnal evolution, incompatible with alternative estimates of 2-3km (refs , , ). Here we use a three-dimensional general circulation model, albeit not explicitly simulating the methane cycle, to analyse the dynamics leading to the thermal profile of Titan's lowermost atmosphere. In our simulations, a convective boundary layer develops in the course of the day, rising to an altitude of 800m. In addition, a seasonal boundary of 2km depth is produced by the reversal of the Hadley cell at the equinox, with a dramatic impact on atmospheric circulation. We interpret fog that had been discovered at Titan's south pole earlier as boundary layer clouds. We conclude that Titan's troposphere is well structured, featuring two boundary layers that control wind patterns, dune spacing and cloud formation at low altitudes.

Affiliated with

Also associated with

No associations

Rating

Two boundary layers in Titan's lower troposphere inferred from a climate 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 Two boundary layers in Titan's lower troposphere inferred from a climate model, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Two boundary layers in Titan's lower troposphere inferred from a climate model will most certainly appreciate the feedback.

Rate now

Comments { 0 }

Profile ID: LFWR-SCP-O-1379053