Search Publications
The surface composition of Iapetus: Mapping results from Cassini VIMS
Nicholson, Philip D.; Baines, Kevin H.; Buratti, Bonnie J. +11 more
Cassini VIMS has obtained spatially resolved imaging spectroscopy data on numerous satellites of Saturn. A very close fly-by of Iapetus on September 10, 2007 provided the best data on the spectral signature and spatial extent of dark material on Iapetus. This Cassini Rev 49 Iapetus fly-by provided spatially resolved imaging spectroscopy data of th…
Titan global climate model: A new 3-dimensional version of the IPSL Titan GCM
Charnay, Benjamin; Lebonnois, Sébastien; Rannou, Pascal +1 more
We have developed a new 3-dimensional climate model for Titan’s atmosphere, using the physics of the IPSL Titan 2-dimensional climate model with the current version of the LMDZ General Circulation Model dynamical core. Microphysics and photochemistry are still computed as zonal averages. This GCM covers altitudes from surface to 500 km altitude, w…
Saturn's icy satellites and rings investigated by Cassini-VIMS: III - Radial compositional variability
Brown, R. H.; Baines, K. H.; Buratti, B. J. +16 more
In the last few years Cassini-VIMS, the Visible and Infrared Mapping Spectrometer, returned to us a comprehensive view of the Saturn's icy satellites and rings. After having analyzed the satellites' spectral properties (Filacchione, G., Capaccioni, F., McCord, T.B., Coradini, A., Cerroni, P., Bellucci, G., Tosi, F., D'Aversa, E., Formisano, V., Br…
Optical constants of Titan tholins at mid-infrared wavelengths (2.5-25 µm) and the possible chemical nature of Titan’s haze particles
Khare, Bishun N.; McKay, Christopher P.; Cruikshank, Dale P. +1 more
Complex organic materials may exist as haze layers in the atmosphere of Titan and as dark coloring agents on icy satellite surfaces. Laboratory measurements of optical constants of plausible complex organic materials are necessary for quantitative evaluation from remote sensing observations, and to document the existence of complex organic materia…
Optical constants of Titan's stratospheric aerosols in the 70-1500 cm-1 spectral range constrained by Cassini/CIRS observations
Bézard, Bruno; Vinatier, Sandrine; de Kok, Remco +3 more
We utilized aerosol extinction coefficient inferred from Cassini/CIRS spectra in the far and mid infrared region to derive the extinction cross-section near an altitude of 190 km at 15°S (from far-IR) and 20°S (from mid-IR). By comparing the extinction cross section that are derived from observations with theoretical calculations for a fractal agg…
Tidally-induced melting events as the origin of south-pole activity on Enceladus
Čadek, Ondřej; Tobie, Gabriel; Běhounková, Marie +1 more
The intense activity at the south pole of Enceladus hints at an internal water reservoir. However, there is no direct evidence of liquid water at present and its long-term stability in the interior remains problematic. By modeling heat production and transfer in the ice shell in a spherical geometry, we show that tidal heating naturally leads to a…
The origin and evolution of Saturn’s 2011-2012 stratospheric vortex
Fletcher, Leigh N.; Sánchez-Lavega, A.; García-Melendo, E. +12 more
The planet-encircling springtime storm in Saturn’s troposphere (December 2010-July 2011, Fletcher, L.N. et al. [2011]. Science 332, 1413-1414; Sánchez-Lavega, A. et al. [2011]. Nature 475, 71-74; Fischer, G. et al. [2011]. Nature 475, 75-77) produced dramatic perturbations to stratospheric temperatures, winds and composition at mbar pressures that…
Mid- and far-infrared absorption spectroscopy of Titan’s aerosols analogues
Vinatier, Sandrine; Mahjoub, Ahmed; Anderson, Carrie M. +7 more
In this work we present mid- and far-infrared absorption spectra of Titan’s aerosol analogues produced in the PAMPRE experimental setup. The evolution of the linear absorption coefficient ɛ (cm-1) is given as a function of the wavenumber.
We provide a complete dataset regarding the influence that the concentration of methane vapor …Observations of Titan’s Northern lakes at 5 µm: Implications for the organic cycle and geology
Le Mouélic, S.; Rodriguez, S.; Sotin, C. +13 more
Since Titan entered Northern spring in August 2009, the North Pole has been illuminated allowing observations at optical wavelengths. On June 5, 2010 the Visual and Infrared Mapping Spectrometer (VIMS) onboard the Cassini spacecraft observed the Northern Pole area with a pixel size from 3 to 7 km. Since, as we demonstrate, little of the solar flux…
The structure of Titan’s atmosphere from Cassini radio occultations: Occultations from the Prime and Equinox missions
French, Richard G.; Flasar, F. Michael; Marouf, Essam A. +7 more
We present the results of six soundings of the atmosphere of Titan by the radio occultation technique using the Cassini spacecraft currently in orbit around Saturn. These occultations occurred during four separate targeted Titan encounters in both the Prime and Equinox missions of Cassini over 3 years. They cover a wide range of latitude from 75°S…