Saturn's Titan: Evidence for Surface Reflectance Change: Implications for Atmospheric and Volcanic Activity

Details Saturn's Titan: Evidence for Surface Reflectance Change: Implications for Atmospheric and Volcanic Activity Saturn's Titan: Evidence for Surface Reflectance Change: Implications for Atmospheric and Volcanic Activity

Dec 2006

adsabs.harvard.edu/cgi-bin/nph-data_query?bibcode=2006agufm.p12a..06n&link_type=abstract

American Geophysical Union, Fall Meeting 2006, abstract #P12A-06

Physics

5410 Composition (1060, 3672), 5422 Ices, 5464 Remote Sensing, 6281 Titan

Scientific paper

Significant regional changes in the near-infrared reflectance of a 2800 km2 area on Titan occurred between July 2004 and March of 2006. The reflectance increased by a factor of two between July 2004 and March-April of 2005; it then decreased to the July 2004 level by November 2005. By late December 2005 the reflectance had surged again, slightly exceeding its earlier maximum. It then decreased in reflectance in the three following months through mid-March 2006. This behavior is inconsistent with tropospheric clouds of the type observed at Titan's South pole and high mid-latitudes. Application of a comprehensive radiative transfer model indicates that it is unlikely to be caused by a ground fog and most likely occurred at Titan's surface. This is the first direct evidence of short-term surface change on Titan. Inspection of the spectral differences between the spot and its surrounding terrain rules out changes in the distribution of the ices of H2O, CO2, and CH4 as the cause. However, the spectral change is consistent with what would be expected from NH3 frost. Interpretations include changing surface deposits due to abrupt tectonic or volcanic activity. This is the first evidence for currently active tectonic processes such as volcanism on Titan. This work done at JPL/CALTECH under contract with NASA

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