Mathematics – Logic
Scientific paper
Dec 2006
adsabs.harvard.edu/cgi-bin/nph-data_query?bibcode=2006agufm.p12a..02l&link_type=abstract
American Geophysical Union, Fall Meeting 2006, abstract #P12A-02
Mathematics
Logic
5480 Volcanism (6063, 8148, 8450), 6063 Volcanism (5480, 8450), 8148 Planetary Volcanism (5480, 8450), 8450 Planetary Volcanism (5480, 6063, 8148)
Scientific paper
The Cassini RADAR has obtained SAR images of Titan's surface that reveal remarkably diverse geology including a variety of features interpreted as cryovolcanic. We will discuss these cryovolcanic features, their distribution, possible composition, and how their possible emplacement processes compare to those of terrestrial silicate volcanism. The features identified as cryovolcanic on Titan's surface include a dome or shield about 180 km in diameter, several extensive flows, and numerous calderas and small pits. Some of the calderas have flows emanating from them, while others contain lakes probably of ethane and methane. These may be analogous to crater lakes on Earth. The volcanic processes that have taken place on Titan (or that are possibly ongoing) involve extensive effusive eruptions forming flows and constructing shields or domes. This would be consistent with predictions (Lorenz, 1996, Planet. Space Sci. 44) that eruptions are likely to be effusive rather than explosive, because of both the high atmospheric pressure and the relatively volatile-poor cryomagma compositions predicted. Cryomagma composition is still uncertain; earlier predictions (Kargel et al., Icarus 89) suggest ammonia-water mixtures. Preliminary analysis of the topography of one of the Titan flows indicates that the flowing material had a high viscosity, higher than those of ammonia hydrates measured in the laboratory, perhaps suggesting slurries with high ice-crystal fractions, or the inclusion of methanol. Although RADAR data have established that cryovolcanism is one of the major geologic processes shaping Titan's surface, significantly greater coverage of the surface is needed in order to assess the global extent of cryovolcanism and its significance for resurfacing. However, energetic considerations permit cryovolcanism to be a dominant process in the resurfacing of Titan.
Kirk Randolph
Lopes Rosaly M.
Lorenz Robert
Lunine Jonathan
Mitchell Karl L.
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