The lakes of Titan

Ellen R. Stofan; Charles Elachi; Jonathan I. Lunine; Ralf D. Lorenz; B. Stiles; K. L. Mitchell; S. Ostro; Laurence A. Soderblom; C. Wood; H. Zebker; S. Wall; Michael A. Janssen; Randolph L. Kirk; Rosaly Lopes; F. Paganelli; Jani Radebaugh; L. Wye; Y. Anderson; M. Allison; R. Boehmer; P. Callahan; P. Encrenaz; E. Flamini; G. Francescetti; Y. Gim; G. Hamilton; S. Hensley; W.T.K. Johnson; K. Kelleher; D. Muhleman; Philipe Paillou; G. Picardi; F. Posa; L. Roth; R. Seu; S. Shaffer; S. Vetrella; R. West

doi:10.1038/nature05438

The lakes of Titan

Nature

By: Ellen R. Stofan, Charles Elachi, Jonathan I. Lunine, Ralf D. Lorenz, B. Stiles, K. L. Mitchell, S. Ostro, Laurence A. Soderblom, C. Wood, H. Zebker, S. Wall, Michael A. Janssen, Randolph L. Kirk, Rosaly Lopes, F. Paganelli, Jani Radebaugh, L. Wye, Y. Anderson, M. Allison, R. Boehmer, P. Callahan, P. Encrenaz, E. Flamini, G. Francescetti, Y. Gim, G. Hamilton, S. Hensley, W.T.K. Johnson, K. Kelleher, D. Muhleman, Philipe Paillou, G. Picardi, F. Posa, L. Roth, R. Seu, S. Shaffer, S. Vetrella, and R. West

https://doi.org/10.1038/nature05438

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Abstract

The surface of Saturn’s haze-shrouded moon Titan has long been proposed to have oceans or lakes, on the basis of the stability of liquid methane at the surface^1,2. Initial visible³ and radar^4,5 imaging failed to find any evidence of an ocean, although abundant evidence was found that flowing liquids have existed on the surface^5,6. Here we provide definitive evidence for the presence of lakes on the surface of Titan, obtained during the Cassini Radar flyby of Titan on 22 July 2006 (T₁₆). The radar imaging polewards of 70° north shows more than 75 circular to irregular radar-dark patches, in a region where liquid methane and ethane are expected to be abundant and stable on the surface^2,7. The radar-dark patches are interpreted as lakes on the basis of their very low radar reflectivity and morphological similarities to lakes, including associated channels and location in topographic depressions. Some of the lakes do not completely fill the depressions in which they lie, and apparently dry depressions are present. We interpret this to indicate that lakes are present in a number of states, including partly dry and liquid-filled. These northern-hemisphere lakes constitute the strongest evidence yet that a condensable-liquid hydrological cycle is active in Titan’s surface and atmosphere, in which the lakes are filled through rainfall and/or intersection with the subsurface ‘liquid methane’ table.

Additional publication details
Publication type	Article
Publication Subtype	Journal Article
Title	The lakes of Titan
Series title	Nature
DOI	10.1038/nature05438
Volume	445
Issue	7123
Year Published	2007
Language	English
Publisher	Springer Nature
Contributing office(s)	Astrogeology Science Center
Description	4 p.
Larger Work Type	Article
Larger Work Subtype	Journal Article
Larger Work Title	Nature
First page	61
Last page	64
Other Geospatial	Titan
Google Analytic Metrics	Metrics page