The Source of Titan's Methane
Jonathan Lunine
Arizona Lunar & Planetary Labs
September 11, 2006, 4PM
Somewhat by analogy with water on the Earth, methane on Titan is responsible for
weather, fluid erosion, and the creation of chemically complex aerosols by
atmospheric photochemistry. Yet unlike Earth no oceans exist on Titan's surface,
and so the source of methane remains an interesting mystery. I will describe a
detailed coupled orbital-thermal evolution model of Titan's surface, atmosphere
and interior, which provides one possible solution, and which can be tested
during the remainder of the Cassini Orbiter's prime mission.
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