The evolution of Titan's mid-latitude clouds
Science
By: C.A. Griffith, P. Penteado, K. Baines, P. Drossart, J. Barnes, G. Bellucci, J. Bibring, R. Brown, B. Buratti, F. Capaccioni, P. Cerroni, R. Clark, M. Combes, A. Coradini, D. Cruikshank, V. Formisano, R. Jaumann, Y. Langevin, D. Matson, T. McCord, V. Mennella, R. Nelson, P. Nicholson, B. Sicardy, Christophe Sotin, L. A. Soderblom, and R. Kursinski
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Abstract
Spectra from Cassini's Visual and Infrared Mapping Spectrometer reveal that the horizontal structure, height, and optical depth of Titan's clouds are highly, dynamic. Vigorous cloud centers are seen to rise from the middle to the upper troposphere within 30 minutes and dissipate within the next hour. Their development indicates that Titan's clouds evolve convectively; dissipate through rain; and, over the next several hours, waft downwind to achieve their great longitude extents. These and other characteristics suggest that temperate clouds originate from circulation-induced convergence, in addition to a forcing at the surface associated with Saturn's tides, geology, and/or surface composition.
| Publication type | Article |
|---|---|
| Publication Subtype | Journal Article |
| Title | The evolution of Titan's mid-latitude clouds |
| Series title | Science |
| DOI | 10.1126/science.1117702 |
| Volume | 310 |
| Issue | 5747 |
| Year Published | 2005 |
| Language | English |
| Larger Work Type | Article |
| Larger Work Subtype | Journal Article |
| Larger Work Title | Science |
| First page | 474 |
| Last page | 477 |
| Google Analytic Metrics | Metrics page |