Photometric changes on Saturn's Titan: Evidence for active cryovolcanism

Robert M. Nelson; Lucas W. Kamp; Rosaly M.C. Lopes; Dennis L. Matson; Randolph L. Kirk; Bruce W. Hapke; Stephen D. Wall; Mark D. Boryta; Frank E. Leader; William D. Smythe; Karl L. Mitchell; Kevin H. Baines; Ralf Jaumann; Christophe Sotin; Roger N. Clark; Dale P. Cruikshank; Pierre Drossart; Jonathan I. Lunine; Michel Combes; Giancarlo Bellucci; Jean-Pierre Bibring; Fabrizio Capaccioni; Pricilla Cerroni; Angioletta Coradini; Vittorio Formisano; Gianrico Filacchione; Yves Langevin; Thomas B.  McCord; Vito Mennella; Philip D. Nicholson; Bruno Sicardy; Patrick G.J. Irwin; John C. Pearl

doi:10.1029/2008GL036206

Photometric changes on Saturn's Titan: Evidence for active cryovolcanism

Geophysical Research Letters

By: Robert M. Nelson, Lucas W. Kamp, Rosaly M.C. Lopes, Dennis L. Matson, Randolph L. Kirk, Bruce W. Hapke, Stephen D. Wall, Mark D. Boryta, Frank E. Leader, William D. Smythe, Karl L. Mitchell, Kevin H. Baines, Ralf Jaumann, Christophe Sotin, Roger N. Clark, Dale P. Cruikshank, Pierre Drossart, Jonathan I. Lunine, Michel Combes, Giancarlo Bellucci, Jean-Pierre Bibring, Fabrizio Capaccioni, Pricilla Cerroni, Angioletta Coradini, Vittorio Formisano, Gianrico Filacchione, Yves Langevin, Thomas B. McCord, Vito Mennella, Philip D. Nicholson, Bruno Sicardy, Patrick G.J. Irwin, and John C. Pearl

https://doi.org/10.1029/2008GL036206

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Abstract

We report infrared spectrophotometric variability on the surface of Saturn's moon Titan detected in images returned by the Visual and Infrared Mapping Spectrometer (VIMS) onboard the Cassini Saturn Orbiter. The changes were observed at 7°S, 138°W and occurred between October 27, 2005 and January 15, 2006. After that date the surface was unchanged until the most recent observation, March 18, 2006. We previously reported spectrophotometric variability at another location (26°S, 78°W). Cassini Synthetic Aperture RADAR (SAR) images find that the surface morphology at both locations is consistent with surface flows possibly resulting from cryovolcanic activity (Wall et al., companion paper, this issue). The VIMS‐reported time variability and SAR morphology results suggest that Titan currently exhibits intermittent surface changes consistent with present ongoing surface processes. We suggest that these processes involve material from Titan's interior being extruded or effused and deposited on the surface, as might be expected from cryovolcanism.

Additional publication details
Publication type	Article
Publication Subtype	Journal Article
Title	Photometric changes on Saturn's Titan: Evidence for active cryovolcanism
Series title	Geophysical Research Letters
DOI	10.1029/2008GL036206
Volume	36
Issue	4
Year Published	2009
Language	English
Publisher	American Geophysical Union
Publisher location	Washington, D.C.
Contributing office(s)	Astrogeology Science Center
Description	5 p.
Larger Work Type	Article
Larger Work Subtype	Journal Article
Larger Work Title	Geophysical Research Letters
Other Geospatial	Saturn; Titan
Google Analytic Metrics	Metrics page