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Titan: The moon with an Titan: The moon with an atmosphere atmosphere

Titan: The moon with an atmosphereshane/PTYS_206/lectures/Titan... · 2009. 4. 16. · ’ Solid end products of photolysis and electronic dis ... Fluvial erosion Aeolian activity

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Page 1: Titan: The moon with an atmosphereshane/PTYS_206/lectures/Titan... · 2009. 4. 16. · ’ Solid end products of photolysis and electronic dis ... Fluvial erosion Aeolian activity

Titan: The moon with an

Titan: The moon with an

atmosphere

atmosphere

Page 2: Titan: The moon with an atmosphereshane/PTYS_206/lectures/Titan... · 2009. 4. 16. · ’ Solid end products of photolysis and electronic dis ... Fluvial erosion Aeolian activity

The Saturnian System

The Saturnian System

Page 3: Titan: The moon with an atmosphereshane/PTYS_206/lectures/Titan... · 2009. 4. 16. · ’ Solid end products of photolysis and electronic dis ... Fluvial erosion Aeolian activity

The story of Titan

The story of Titan’’ s discovery

s discovery

Dis

cover

ed in 1

655 b

y D

utc

h sci

entist

Dis

cover

ed in 1

655 b

y D

utc

h sci

entist

Christia

an H

uygen

sChristia

an H

uygen

s

Ref

erre

d to it as

Ref

erre

d to it as

Luna Saturni

Luna Saturni

(Sat

urn

's m

oon)

(Sat

urn

's m

oon)

Nam

ed

Nam

ed ‘‘Titan

Titan

’’in

in

1847 b

y the

1847 b

y the

English

ast

ronom

er

English

ast

ronom

er

John H

ersc

hel

Jo

hn H

ersc

hel

Aerial telescope

Page 4: Titan: The moon with an atmosphereshane/PTYS_206/lectures/Titan... · 2009. 4. 16. · ’ Solid end products of photolysis and electronic dis ... Fluvial erosion Aeolian activity

Poss

ibility o

f at

mosp

her

e su

gges

ted b

y C

om

as S

ola

s in

1903

Poss

ibility o

f at

mosp

her

e su

gges

ted b

y C

om

as S

ola

s in

1903 , a

fter

, af

ter

obse

rvin

g lim

b d

arken

ing

obse

rvin

g lim

b d

arken

ing

Existe

nce

of at

mosp

her

e co

nfirm

ed b

y

Existe

nce

of at

mosp

her

e co

nfirm

ed b

y

Kuip

er in 1

944, m

ethan

e id

entified

in

Kuip

er in 1

944, m

ethan

e id

entified

in

Titan

spec

trum

Titan

spec

trum

Gro

und

Gro

und-- b

ased

tel

esco

pic

obse

rvat

ions

bas

ed tel

esco

pic

obse

rvat

ions

Voyag

er1 (1980

Voyag

er1 (1980-- 8

1) sa

w fea

ture

less

surfac

e 81) sa

w fea

ture

less

surfac

e

Cas

sini

Cas

sini --H

uygen

s m

issi

on (1997

Huygen

s m

issi

on (1997-- p

rese

nt)

pre

sent)

Page 5: Titan: The moon with an atmosphereshane/PTYS_206/lectures/Titan... · 2009. 4. 16. · ’ Solid end products of photolysis and electronic dis ... Fluvial erosion Aeolian activity

Comparison with other solar system objects

Comparison with other solar system objects

Lar

ges

t sa

tellite

of Sat

urn

Lar

ges

t sa

tellite

of Sat

urn

Lar

ger

than

Mer

cury

and P

luto

Lar

ger

than

Mer

cury

and P

luto

Sec

ond lar

ges

t nat

ura

l sa

tellite

in the

sola

r sy

stem

after

Sec

ond lar

ges

t nat

ura

l sa

tellite

in the

sola

r sy

stem

after

Gan

ym

ede

Gan

ym

ede

Sim

ilar

in siz

e, m

ass to

Gan

ym

ede

,Cal

listo

Sim

ilar

in siz

e, m

ass to

Gan

ym

ede

,Cal

listo

Why d

oes

Titan

hav

e an

atm

osp

her

e , w

hile

its Jo

via

n

Why d

oes

Titan

hav

e an

atm

osp

her

e , w

hile

its Jo

via

n

cousins don

cousins don’’ t?t?

Page 6: Titan: The moon with an atmosphereshane/PTYS_206/lectures/Titan... · 2009. 4. 16. · ’ Solid end products of photolysis and electronic dis ... Fluvial erosion Aeolian activity
Page 7: Titan: The moon with an atmosphereshane/PTYS_206/lectures/Titan... · 2009. 4. 16. · ’ Solid end products of photolysis and electronic dis ... Fluvial erosion Aeolian activity

Titan

Titan’’ s atmosphere

s atmosphere

Only

moon in the

sola

r sy

stem

to p

oss

ess a

Only

moon in the

sola

r sy

stem

to p

oss

ess a

den

se a

tmosp

her

eden

se a

tmosp

her

e

10 tim

es thic

ker

than

Ear

th10 tim

es thic

ker

than

Ear

th’’ s

atm

osp

her

es at

mosp

her

e

Pre

sence

of huge

atm

osp

her

e unex

pla

ined

Pre

sence

of huge

atm

osp

her

e unex

pla

ined

NN2

2 : M

ajor co

nstituen

t of both

Ear

th: M

ajor co

nstituen

t of both

Ear

th’’ s

s

and T

itan

and T

itan

’’ s a

tmosp

her

e (~

98.4

% N

s at

mosp

her

e (~

98.4

% N

22,,

~1.6

% C

H~1.6

% C

H44))

Uniq

ue

atm

osp

her

ic o

rgan

ic c

hem

istry

Uniq

ue

atm

osp

her

ic o

rgan

ic c

hem

istry

→→fo

rms th

ick h

aze

whic

h e

nvel

opes

the

form

s th

ick h

aze

whic

h e

nvel

opes

the

moon; pre

ven

ts fro

m see

ing the

moon; pre

ven

ts fro

m see

ing the

surfac

esu

rfac

e

Ear

ly E

arth

/Pre

Ear

ly E

arth

/Pre

-- bio

tic

Ear

th in

bio

tic

Ear

th in

dee

p fre

eze

dee

p fre

eze

Page 8: Titan: The moon with an atmosphereshane/PTYS_206/lectures/Titan... · 2009. 4. 16. · ’ Solid end products of photolysis and electronic dis ... Fluvial erosion Aeolian activity

Titan

Titan’’ s atmospheric chemistry

s atmospheric chemistry

2CH

2CH

44→→

CC22HH

66+ H

+ H

22(( ↑↑

))

Met

han

e M

ethan

e →→

Eth

ane

+ H

ydro

gen

Eth

ane

+ H

ydro

gen

Page 9: Titan: The moon with an atmosphereshane/PTYS_206/lectures/Titan... · 2009. 4. 16. · ’ Solid end products of photolysis and electronic dis ... Fluvial erosion Aeolian activity

Tholins

Tholins

Ter

m first

pro

pose

d b

y C

arl Sag

an e

t al

.Ter

m first

pro

pose

d b

y C

arl Sag

an e

t al

.

Haz

e m

ade

of lo

ng c

hai

n m

ole

cule

sH

aze

mad

e of lo

ng c

hai

n m

ole

cule

s --‘‘ tholins

tholins ’’

Solid e

nd p

roduct

s of photo

lysis an

d e

lect

ronic

disch

arge

Solid e

nd p

roduct

s of photo

lysis an

d e

lect

ronic

disch

arge

exper

imen

ts sim

ula

ting o

ther

pla

net

ary a

tmosp

her

esex

per

imen

ts sim

ula

ting o

ther

pla

net

ary a

tmosp

her

es

Com

ple

x red

dish o

r bro

wnis

h o

rgan

ic c

om

pounds

Com

ple

x red

dish o

r bro

wnis

h o

rgan

ic c

om

pounds

Not pre

cise

qual

ific

atio

n o

f th

e co

mpounds co

nstituting

Not pre

cise

qual

ific

atio

n o

f th

e co

mpounds co

nstituting

Titan

Titan

’’ s h

aze

s haz

e

Page 10: Titan: The moon with an atmosphereshane/PTYS_206/lectures/Titan... · 2009. 4. 16. · ’ Solid end products of photolysis and electronic dis ... Fluvial erosion Aeolian activity

Results from Voyager

Results from Voyager

Saw

an o

range,

fea

ture

less

bal

lSaw

an o

range,

fea

ture

less

bal

l

Atm

osp

her

ic struct

ure

, A

tmosp

her

ic struct

ure

,

com

posi

tion

com

posi

tion

Pre

ssure

Pre

ssure

-- tem

per

ature

pro

file

te

mper

ature

pro

file

thro

ugh the

atm

osp

her

eth

rough the

atm

osp

her

e

Rad

io

Rad

io

occ

ultat

ion u

sed

occ

ultat

ion u

sed

to d

eter

min

e to

det

erm

ine

Titan

Titan

’’ s rad

ius

s ra

diu

s

Page 11: Titan: The moon with an atmosphereshane/PTYS_206/lectures/Titan... · 2009. 4. 16. · ’ Solid end products of photolysis and electronic dis ... Fluvial erosion Aeolian activity

Surface composition

Surface composition

No c

oncl

usive

resu

lts yet

No c

oncl

usive

resu

lts yet

How

ever

, su

rfac

e has

to b

e m

ade

mai

nly

of w

ater

ice

(gro

und

How

ever

, su

rfac

e has

to b

e m

ade

mai

nly

of w

ater

ice

(gro

und--

bas

ed/s

pac

ecra

ft o

bse

rvat

ions)

bas

ed/s

pac

ecra

ft o

bse

rvat

ions)

Expec

ted to b

e co

ated

with h

ydro

carb

ons th

at rai

n d

ow

n fro

m

Expec

ted to b

e co

ated

with h

ydro

carb

ons th

at rai

n d

ow

n fro

m

above

(eth

ane,

ben

zene,

pro

pan

e, e

tc.)

above

(eth

ane,

ben

zene,

pro

pan

e, e

tc.)

Page 12: Titan: The moon with an atmosphereshane/PTYS_206/lectures/Titan... · 2009. 4. 16. · ’ Solid end products of photolysis and electronic dis ... Fluvial erosion Aeolian activity

Comparison of surface materials

Comparison of surface materials

Bedrock

Bedrock

Silic

a Silic

a W

ater

ice

Wat

er ice

Working fluid

Working fluid

Wat

er

Wat

er

Met

han

eM

ethan

e

Sediment/Soil

Sediment/Soil

Quar

tzQ

uar

tzW

ater

ice

/org

anic

W

ater

ice

/org

anic

mat

eria

ls

mat

eria

ls

(tholins)

(tholins)

Earth

Titan

Page 13: Titan: The moon with an atmosphereshane/PTYS_206/lectures/Titan... · 2009. 4. 16. · ’ Solid end products of photolysis and electronic dis ... Fluvial erosion Aeolian activity

Wat

er c

ycl

e on E

arth

Met

han

e cy

cle

on T

itan

Page 14: Titan: The moon with an atmosphereshane/PTYS_206/lectures/Titan... · 2009. 4. 16. · ’ Solid end products of photolysis and electronic dis ... Fluvial erosion Aeolian activity

Internal structure

Internal structure

Mea

n d

ensi

ty o

f ~1880 k

g m

Mea

n d

ensi

ty o

f ~1880 k

g m

-- 33

Implies

a 5

0Im

plies

a 5

0-- 5

0 m

ixtu

re o

f ro

ck a

nd ice

(like

Gan

ym

ede)

50 m

ixtu

re o

f ro

ck a

nd ice

(like

Gan

ym

ede)

Sub

Sub-- s

urf

ace

oce

an ?

(sugges

ted b

y C

assini m

issi

on res

ults)

surf

ace

oce

an ?

(sugges

ted b

y C

assini m

issi

on res

ults)

Page 15: Titan: The moon with an atmosphereshane/PTYS_206/lectures/Titan... · 2009. 4. 16. · ’ Solid end products of photolysis and electronic dis ... Fluvial erosion Aeolian activity

Titan

Titan’’ s Formation Sequence

s Formation Sequence

Titan

acc

rete

s Titan

acc

rete

s

Core

over

turn

Core

over

turn

occ

urs

occ

urs

Thre

e ep

isodes

Thre

e ep

isodes

of C

Hof C

H4

4 o

utg

assi

ng

outg

assi

ng

Hig

h p

ress

ure

H

igh p

ress

ure

ices

form

at co

reic

es form

at co

re--

man

tle

boundar

ym

antle

boundar

y

Ice

I sh

ell fo

rms

Ice

I sh

ell fo

rms

under

met

han

e under

met

han

e

clat

hra

te lay

ercl

athra

te lay

er

Tobie et al., 2006

Page 16: Titan: The moon with an atmosphereshane/PTYS_206/lectures/Titan... · 2009. 4. 16. · ’ Solid end products of photolysis and electronic dis ... Fluvial erosion Aeolian activity

Cassini

Cassini --Huygens mission

Huygens mission

Inte

rnat

ional

collab

ora

tion b

etw

een thre

e sp

ace

agen

cies

In

tern

atio

nal

collab

ora

tion b

etw

een thre

e sp

ace

agen

cies

: N

ASA

, ESA

, Ital

ian S

pac

e A

gen

cy: N

ASA

, ESA

, Ital

ian S

pac

e A

gen

cy

2 m

ain e

lem

ents

: Cas

sini orb

iter

and H

uygen

s pro

be

2 m

ain e

lem

ents

: Cas

sini orb

iter

and H

uygen

s pro

be

Lau

nch

ed in 9

7Lau

nch

ed in 9

7’’ ; E

nte

red into

Sat

urn

orb

it o

n J

uly

1, 04;

; Ente

red into

Sat

urn

orb

it o

n J

uly

1, 04;

Huygen

s pro

be

landed

on T

itan

on Jan

uar

y 1

4, 05

Huygen

s pro

be

landed

on T

itan

on Jan

uar

y 1

4, 05

Page 17: Titan: The moon with an atmosphereshane/PTYS_206/lectures/Titan... · 2009. 4. 16. · ’ Solid end products of photolysis and electronic dis ... Fluvial erosion Aeolian activity

Surface map of Titan

Surface map of Titan

HLS (10°S

, 192°W

)Fac

ula

Fac

ula

––bright sp

ot, M

acula

bright sp

ot, M

acula

––dar

k spot

dar

k spot

Page 18: Titan: The moon with an atmosphereshane/PTYS_206/lectures/Titan... · 2009. 4. 16. · ’ Solid end products of photolysis and electronic dis ... Fluvial erosion Aeolian activity

Huygen

s pro

be

landed

in d

ark a

rea

Huygen

s pro

be

landed

in d

ark a

rea

10 S

, 192 W

10 S

, 192 W

Dried

Dried

-- up riv

er b

ed?

up riv

er b

ed?

Des

cent im

ages

show

ed

Des

cent im

ages

show

ed

shore

line

shore

line

Den

dritic

feat

ure

s, c

han

nel

sD

endritic

feat

ure

s, c

han

nel

s

Eas

tEas

t --w

est ridges

of bright

wes

t ridges

of bright

mat

eria

lm

ater

ial

Page 19: Titan: The moon with an atmosphereshane/PTYS_206/lectures/Titan... · 2009. 4. 16. · ’ Solid end products of photolysis and electronic dis ... Fluvial erosion Aeolian activity

In the

dar

k a

reas

In the

dar

k a

reas

Low

alb

edo o

rgan

ic c

om

pounds

Low

alb

edo o

rgan

ic c

om

pounds

Som

e w

ater

ice

vis

ible

Som

e w

ater

ice

vis

ible

Litte

red w

ith 1

5cm

cobble

sLitte

red w

ith 1

5cm

cobble

s

••Bright ic

y c

om

posi

tion

Bright ic

y c

om

posi

tion

••Rounded

appea

rance

Rounded

appea

rance

sugges

ts flu

via

l tran

sport

sugges

ts flu

via

l tran

sport

Chan

nel

bed

appar

ent a

few

Chan

nel

bed

appar

ent a

few

met

ers aw

aym

eter

s aw

ay

Ver

y subdued

topogra

phy

Ver

y subdued

topogra

phy

Met

han

e re

leas

edM

ethan

e re

leas

ed

Met

han

e co

nce

ntrat

ion

Met

han

e co

nce

ntrat

ion

incr

ease

d a

fter

lan

din

gin

crea

sed a

fter

lan

din

g

Page 20: Titan: The moon with an atmosphereshane/PTYS_206/lectures/Titan... · 2009. 4. 16. · ’ Solid end products of photolysis and electronic dis ... Fluvial erosion Aeolian activity

Pen

etro

met

erPen

etro

met

er

Pro

be

firs

t hit o

ne

of th

e Pro

be

firs

t hit o

ne

of th

e

icy c

obble

sic

y c

obble

s

After

that

gro

und h

as

After

that

gro

und h

as

consist

ency

of w

et c

lay

consist

ency

of w

et c

lay

Couple

d w

ith m

ethan

e Couple

d w

ith m

ethan

e

rele

ase

rele

ase

••W

etW

et-- ish

subsu

rfac

eis

h subsu

rfac

e

••Lik

e pac

ked

snow

or w

et

Lik

e pac

ked

snow

or w

et

clay

clay

Page 21: Titan: The moon with an atmosphereshane/PTYS_206/lectures/Titan... · 2009. 4. 16. · ’ Solid end products of photolysis and electronic dis ... Fluvial erosion Aeolian activity

Active surface processes

Active surface processes

Flu

via

l er

osion

Flu

via

l er

osion

Aeo

lian

act

ivity

Aeo

lian

act

ivity

Tec

tonic

sTec

tonic

s

Cry

ovolc

anism

Cry

ovolc

anism

Impac

t cr

ater

ing

Impac

t cr

ater

ing

Lac

ustrine

pro

cess

es (la

kes

)Lac

ustrine

pro

cess

es (la

kes

)

Page 22: Titan: The moon with an atmosphereshane/PTYS_206/lectures/Titan... · 2009. 4. 16. · ’ Solid end products of photolysis and electronic dis ... Fluvial erosion Aeolian activity

Fluvial erosion

Fluvial erosion

15 cm

Page 23: Titan: The moon with an atmosphereshane/PTYS_206/lectures/Titan... · 2009. 4. 16. · ’ Solid end products of photolysis and electronic dis ... Fluvial erosion Aeolian activity

Aeolian activity

Aeolian activity

Win

d spee

ds on T

itan

wer

e to

be

mea

sure

d b

y D

opple

r W

ind E

xper

imW

ind spee

ds on T

itan

wer

e to

be

mea

sure

d b

y D

opple

r W

ind E

xper

imen

t en

t onboar

d H

uygen

sonboar

d H

uygen

s

Glitc

h w

ith o

ne

of th

e ra

dio

lin

ks

Glitc

h w

ith o

ne

of th

e ra

dio

lin

ks

��ea

rth

earth-- b

ased

rad

io tel

esco

pes

bas

ed rad

io tel

esco

pes

had

to b

e use

d for m

easu

ring

had

to b

e use

d for m

easu

ring

win

d spee

ds

win

d spee

ds

Strong p

rogra

de

(eas

twar

d)

Strong p

rogra

de

(eas

twar

d)

zonal

win

ds during m

ost

zonal

win

ds during m

ost

of des

cent

of des

cent

In situ c

onfirm

atio

n o

f In

situ c

onfirm

atio

n o

f

super

rota

tion o

n T

itan

(w

ind spee

ds of ~ 1

00 m

/s a

t 120 k

m a

super

rota

tion o

n T

itan

(w

ind spee

ds of ~ 1

00 m

/s a

t 120 k

m a

ltitude)

ltitude)

Wea

k surfac

e w

inds (~

1 m

/s)

Wea

k surfac

e w

inds (~

1 m

/s)

Page 24: Titan: The moon with an atmosphereshane/PTYS_206/lectures/Titan... · 2009. 4. 16. · ’ Solid end products of photolysis and electronic dis ... Fluvial erosion Aeolian activity

Longitudinal dunes on Titan

Longitudinal dunes on Titan

3km

wav

elen

gth

, 100m

hei

ght

3km

wav

elen

gth

, 100m

hei

ght

Found in e

quat

orial

reg

ions,

Found in e

quat

orial

reg

ions,

orien

ted a

long p

redom

inan

t w

ind

orien

ted a

long p

redom

inan

t w

ind--

flow

direc

tion (w

est

flow

direc

tion (w

est --ea

st)

east

)

Wra

p a

round topogra

phic

obstac

les

Wra

p a

round topogra

phic

obstac

les

Sim

ilar

to N

amib

iaSim

ilar

to N

amib

ia

Dunes

obse

rved

to c

over

som

e cr

ater

sD

unes

obse

rved

to c

over

som

e cr

ater

s

Aeo

lian

ero

sion/b

urial

mig

ht be

an

Aeo

lian

ero

sion/b

urial

mig

ht be

an

importan

t pro

cess

importan

t pro

cess

Spec

tral

(U

VIS

) dat

aSpec

tral

(U

VIS

) dat

a

Dune

area

s hav

e lo

w

Dune

area

s hav

e lo

w

wat

er ice

sig

nat

ure

wat

er ice

sig

nat

ure

May

be

solid o

rgan

ic

May

be

solid o

rgan

ic

(Photo

chem

ical

pro

duct

s (P

hoto

chem

ical

pro

duct

s

of m

ethan

e?)

of m

ethan

e?)

Page 25: Titan: The moon with an atmosphereshane/PTYS_206/lectures/Titan... · 2009. 4. 16. · ’ Solid end products of photolysis and electronic dis ... Fluvial erosion Aeolian activity

Titan

has

a d

earth o

f cr

ater

sTitan

has

a d

earth o

f cr

ater

s

Sev

eral

Sev

eral

suspiciously

suspiciously

circ

ula

r ci

rcula

r

feat

ure

sfe

ature

s

Rad

ar h

as im

aged

~30%

of

Rad

ar h

as im

aged

~30%

of

surfac

esu

rfac

e

Geo

morp

holo

gic

ally

ver

y

Geo

morp

holo

gic

ally

ver

y

active;

young surfac

e ac

tive;

young surfac

e

Rhea –for comparison

Impact cratering

Page 26: Titan: The moon with an atmosphereshane/PTYS_206/lectures/Titan... · 2009. 4. 16. · ’ Solid end products of photolysis and electronic dis ... Fluvial erosion Aeolian activity

Cryovolcanism

Cryovolcanism

Ice

Ice-- r

ich v

olc

anism

rich

volc

anism

Cry

ovolc

anoes

eru

pt vola

tile

s like

wat

er,

Cry

ovolc

anoes

eru

pt vola

tile

s like

wat

er,

met

han

e, a

mm

onia

instea

d o

f m

olten

rock

met

han

e, a

mm

onia

instea

d o

f m

olten

rock

Eru

pte

d substan

ces

Eru

pte

d substan

ces →→

usu

ally

liq

uid

s, form

plu

mes

, ca

n a

lso b

e in

usu

ally

liq

uid

s, form

plu

mes

, ca

n a

lso b

e in

vap

our fo

rmvap

our fo

rm

Contrib

ution to rep

lenishm

ent of m

ethan

e in

Titan

Contrib

ution to rep

lenishm

ent of m

ethan

e in

Titan

’’ s m

ethan

olo

gic

al

s m

ethan

olo

gic

al

cycl

e (Y

ung e

t al

. 1984)

cycl

e (Y

ung e

t al

. 1984)

Importan

t re

surfac

ing p

roce

ssIm

portan

t re

surfac

ing p

roce

ss

Mig

ht ex

pla

in c

luster

ing o

f cl

ouds nea

r 40

Mig

ht ex

pla

in c

luster

ing o

f cl

ouds nea

r 40°° S

, 350

S, 350°° W

(Roe

et a

l. 2

005)

W (Roe

et a

l. 2

005)

Astro

bio

logic

al im

plica

tions : Pote

ntial

hab

itat

s fo

r life

Astro

bio

logic

al im

plica

tions : Pote

ntial

hab

itat

s fo

r life

Page 27: Titan: The moon with an atmosphereshane/PTYS_206/lectures/Titan... · 2009. 4. 16. · ’ Solid end products of photolysis and electronic dis ... Fluvial erosion Aeolian activity

Gan

esa

Mac

ula

Gan

esa

Mac

ula

Circu

lar fe

ature

, 180 k

m d

iaCircu

lar fe

ature

, 180 k

m d

ia

Flo

w fea

ture

sFlo

w fea

ture

s

Cry

olv

olc

anic

/alluvia

l fa

ns

Cry

olv

olc

anic

/alluvia

l fa

ns

Cryovolcanism

Page 28: Titan: The moon with an atmosphereshane/PTYS_206/lectures/Titan... · 2009. 4. 16. · ’ Solid end products of photolysis and electronic dis ... Fluvial erosion Aeolian activity

More

M

ore

‘‘ca

lder

asca

lder

as’’an

d

and ‘‘flow

sflow

s ’’

Page 29: Titan: The moon with an atmosphereshane/PTYS_206/lectures/Titan... · 2009. 4. 16. · ’ Solid end products of photolysis and electronic dis ... Fluvial erosion Aeolian activity

Probable cryovolcanic sites

Probable cryovolcanic sites

Hotei Arcus

Page 30: Titan: The moon with an atmosphereshane/PTYS_206/lectures/Titan... · 2009. 4. 16. · ’ Solid end products of photolysis and electronic dis ... Fluvial erosion Aeolian activity

Titan

Titan’’ s Land

s Land-- oo-- Lakes!

Lakes!

Lak

es d

isco

ver

ed a

t N

orth

Lak

es d

isco

ver

ed a

t N

orth

(Sto

fan

(Sto

fan et al.

et al.

2007) an

d S

outh

2007) an

d S

outh

Pole

Pole

Liq

uid

eth

ane

det

erm

ined

to b

e Liq

uid

eth

ane

det

erm

ined

to b

e one

of th

e co

mponen

ts (Bro

wn

one

of th

e co

mponen

ts (Bro

wn et et

al.al.

2008)

2008)

Only

know

n a

ctiv

e la

ke

syst

em

Only

know

n a

ctiv

e la

ke

syst

em

on a

ny sola

r sy

stem

obje

ct a

par

t on a

ny sola

r sy

stem

obje

ct a

par

t from

Ear

thfrom

Ear

thImaging Science

Subsystem (ISS)

RADAR

Visual and Infrared

Mapping spectrometer

(VIMS)

Page 31: Titan: The moon with an atmosphereshane/PTYS_206/lectures/Titan... · 2009. 4. 16. · ’ Solid end products of photolysis and electronic dis ... Fluvial erosion Aeolian activity

Evidences in support of lake

Evidences in support of lake

interpretation

interpretation

Nois

eN

ois

e-- flo

or le

vel

bac

ksc

atte

r floor le

vel

bac

ksc

atte

r

Hig

her

brightn

ess te

mper

ature

s H

igher

brightn

ess te

mper

ature

s

over

the

feat

ure

s co

mpar

ed to the

over

the

feat

ure

s co

mpar

ed to the

surr

oundin

g reg

ion

surr

oundin

g reg

ion

Pre

sence

of ch

annel

s goin

g in a

nd

Pre

sence

of ch

annel

s goin

g in a

nd

com

ing o

ut of th

e dar

k fea

ture

s co

min

g o

ut of th

e dar

k fea

ture

s

Liq

uid

eth

ane

com

posi

tion

Liq

uid

eth

ane

com

posi

tion

(VIM

S d

isco

ver

y)

(VIM

S d

isco

ver

y)

Page 32: Titan: The moon with an atmosphereshane/PTYS_206/lectures/Titan... · 2009. 4. 16. · ’ Solid end products of photolysis and electronic dis ... Fluvial erosion Aeolian activity
Page 33: Titan: The moon with an atmosphereshane/PTYS_206/lectures/Titan... · 2009. 4. 16. · ’ Solid end products of photolysis and electronic dis ... Fluvial erosion Aeolian activity

Temporal evolution of lakes at South Pole

Temporal evolution of lakes at South Pole

Chan

ges

in b

rightn

ess over

the

cours

e of a

yea

rChan

ges

in b

rightn

ess over

the

cours

e of a

yea

r

New

dar

k a

reas

vis

ible

over

South

Pole

New

dar

k a

reas

vis

ible

over

South

Pole

Rai

n fro

m lar

ge

storm

?Rai

n fro

m lar

ge

storm

?

Chan

ges

in c

loud a

ctiv

ity

Chan

ges

in c

loud a

ctiv

ity

Imaging Science

Subsystem (ISS)

Page 34: Titan: The moon with an atmosphereshane/PTYS_206/lectures/Titan... · 2009. 4. 16. · ’ Solid end products of photolysis and electronic dis ... Fluvial erosion Aeolian activity

Tectonics on Titan

Tectonics on Titan

Mounta

in ran

ges

im

aged

both

by

Mounta

in ran

ges

im

aged

both

by

VIM

S a

nd R

AD

AR

VIM

S a

nd R

AD

AR

Poss

ible

form

atio

n m

echan

ism

s:

Poss

ible

form

atio

n m

echan

ism

s:

Cru

stal

com

pre

ssio

nal

te

ctonism

and u

pth

rustin

g o

f blo

cks

Exte

nsional

tec

tonism

and

form

atio

n o

f hors

t-an

d-g

raben

Dep

osition a

s blo

cks of im

pac

t ej

ecta

Disse

ctio

n a

nd e

rosion o

f a

pre

existing lay

er o

f m

ater

ial

Page 35: Titan: The moon with an atmosphereshane/PTYS_206/lectures/Titan... · 2009. 4. 16. · ’ Solid end products of photolysis and electronic dis ... Fluvial erosion Aeolian activity

Rad

arcl

inom

etry

(sh

ape

Rad

arcl

inom

etry

(sh

ape-- fro

mfrom

-- shad

ing) use

d to infe

r m

ounta

in h

eights

sh

adin

g) use

d to infe

r m

ounta

in h

eights

an

d slo

pes

and slo

pes

Mea

n slo

pe

~37

Mea

n slo

pe

~37°° , m

ax e

levat

ions ~ 1

930m

, m

ax e

levat

ions ~ 1

930m

Page 36: Titan: The moon with an atmosphereshane/PTYS_206/lectures/Titan... · 2009. 4. 16. · ’ Solid end products of photolysis and electronic dis ... Fluvial erosion Aeolian activity

Clouds on Titan

Clouds on Titan

Mai

nly

obse

rved

at th

e pole

s an

d a

t 40

Mai

nly

obse

rved

at th

e pole

s an

d a

t 40°° SS

Dynam

ic syst

ems;

disap

pea

r in

few

hours

Dynam

ic syst

ems;

disap

pea

r in

few

hours

Page 37: Titan: The moon with an atmosphereshane/PTYS_206/lectures/Titan... · 2009. 4. 16. · ’ Solid end products of photolysis and electronic dis ... Fluvial erosion Aeolian activity

Possibility of life on Titan

Possibility of life on Titan

++

Hydro

lysis of th

olins

Hydro

lysis of th

olins

But w

her

e w

ill th

e w

ater

com

e fr

om

?But w

her

e w

ill th

e w

ater

com

e fr

om

?

Cry

ovolc

anism

Cry

ovolc

anism

Impac

tsIm

pac

ts

Bio

logic

al

mole

cule

s

like

amin

o

acid

s

Page 38: Titan: The moon with an atmosphereshane/PTYS_206/lectures/Titan... · 2009. 4. 16. · ’ Solid end products of photolysis and electronic dis ... Fluvial erosion Aeolian activity

Unanswered questions about Titan

Unanswered questions about Titan

How

did

Titan

get

its

atm

osp

her

e?H

ow

did

Titan

get

its

atm

osp

her

e?

What

is th

e so

urc

e of al

l th

e m

ethan

e?

What

is th

e so

urc

e of al

l th

e m

ethan

e?

Why h

asn

Why h

asn’’ t it ex

hau

sted

by n

ow

?t it e

xhau

sted

by n

ow

?

Wher

e is

all the

ethan

e?W

her

e is

all the

ethan

e?

How

can

the

loca

liza

tion o

f cl

ouds at

H

ow

can

the

loca

liza

tion o

f cl

ouds at

40

40

°°S b

e ex

pla

ined

?S b

e ex

pla

ined

?

What

is th

e su

rfac

e co

mposi

tion o

f Titan

?W

hat

is th

e su

rfac

e co

mposi

tion o

f Titan

?

Whic

h surfac

e pro

cess

es a

re d

om

inan

t W

hic

h surfac

e pro

cess

es a

re d

om

inan

t

on T

itan

?on T

itan

?

Could

bio

logic

al m

ole

cule

s be

synth

esiz

ed

Could

bio

logic

al m

ole

cule

s be

synth

esiz

ed

on T

itan

?on T

itan

?

Page 39: Titan: The moon with an atmosphereshane/PTYS_206/lectures/Titan... · 2009. 4. 16. · ’ Solid end products of photolysis and electronic dis ... Fluvial erosion Aeolian activity

Future Missions

Future Missions

Airborn

e pla

tform

Airborn

e pla

tform

Cover

vas

t dis

tance

s Cover

vas

t dis

tance

s

Bal

loons ca

n tak

e ad

van

tage

of blo

win

g w

inds

Bal

loons ca

n tak

e ad

van

tage

of blo

win

g w

inds

Sam

ple

Acq

uisitio

n D

evic

esSam

ple

Acq

uisitio

n D

evic

es

Page 40: Titan: The moon with an atmosphereshane/PTYS_206/lectures/Titan... · 2009. 4. 16. · ’ Solid end products of photolysis and electronic dis ... Fluvial erosion Aeolian activity

The End

The End