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Methane absorption coefficients for the jovian planets from laboratory, Huygens, and HST data
Karkoschka, Erich; Tomasko, Martin G.
We use 11 data sets of methane transmission measurements within 0.4-5.5 µm wavelength to model the methane transmission for temperature and pressure conditions in the jovian planets. Eight data sets are based on published laboratory measurements. Another two data sets come from two spectrometers onboard the Huygens probe that measured methan…
Stability of methane clathrate hydrates under pressure: Influence on outgassing processes of methane on Titan
Sotin, Christophe; Choukroun, Mathieu; Tobie, Gabriel +1 more
We have conducted high-pressure experiments in the H 2O-CH 4 and H 2O-CH 4-NH 3 systems in order to investigate the stability of methane clathrate hydrates, with an optical sapphire-anvil cell coupled to a Raman spectrometer for sample characterization. The results obtained confirm that three …
A 3 km atmospheric boundary layer on Titan indicated by dune spacing and Huygens data
Lorenz, Ralph D.; Radebaugh, Jani; Tokano, Tetsuya +2 more
Some 20% of Titan's surface is covered in large linear dunes that resemble in morphology, size and spacing (1-3 km) those seen on Earth. Although gravity, atmospheric density and sand composition are very different on these two worlds, this coincident size scale suggests that the controlling parameter limiting the growth of giant dunes, namely the…
Penetrometry of granular and moist planetary surface materials: Application to the Huygens landing site on Titan
Zarnecki, John C.; Lorenz, Ralph D.; Leese, Mark R. +8 more
The Huygens probe landed on the then unknown surface of Titan in January 2005. A small, protruding penetrometer, part of the Surface Science Package (SSP), was pushed into the surface material measuring the mechanical resistance of the ground as the probe impacted the landing site. We present laboratory penetrometry into room temperature surface a…
Far-infrared opacity sources in Titan’s troposphere reconsidered
Irwin, P. G. J.; Teanby, N. A.; de Kok, R.
We use Cassini far-infrared limb and nadir spectra, together with recent Huygens results, to shed new light on the controversial far-infrared opacity sources in Titan's troposphere. Although a global cloud of large CH 4 ice particles around an altitude of 30 km, together with an increase in tropospheric haze opacity with respect to the …
Impact-induced N2 production from ammonium sulfate: Implications for the origin and evolution of N2 in Titan’s atmosphere
Fukuzaki, Sho; Sekine, Yasuhito; Genda, Hidenori +3 more
Chemical reactions and volatile supply through hypervelocity impacts may have played a key role for the origin and evolution of both planetary and satellite atmospheres. In this study, we evaluate the role of impact-induced N 2 production from reduced nitrogen-bearing solids proposed to be contained in Titan's crust, ammonium sulfate ((…