Wind-induced atmospheric escape: Titan

Abstract

Rapid thermospheric flows can significantly enhance the atmospheric loss rates and structures of atmospheric coronae of planetary bodies. Using descriptions of atmospheric escape based on molecular kinetic models, we show that such flows at the exobase of Titan could significantly increase the calculated constituent thermal and nonthermal escape rates. In particular, we show here that the effect of thermospheric winds at the exobase cannot be ignored when calculating the escape of methane from Titan. Such enhancements are likely also relevant to Pluto and exoplanet atmospheres.