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We performed laboratory experiments to study the photochemical evolution induced by long‐UV irradiation of benzene ices in Titan's atmosphere. The aim of this study was to investigate whether photo‐processed benzene ices could lead to the formation of aerosols analogs to those observed in Titan's stratosphere. Prior to that, spectroscopic properties of amorphous and crystalline benzene ices were studied as a function of temperature, using infrared spectroscopy. UV photolysis experiments (λ > 230 nm) of benzene ices led to the formation of volatile photo‐products, among which fulvene is identified, and of a residue dominated by νCH IR features, demonstrating that pure aromatic‐based polymeric structures are not sufficient to explain the composition of Titan's stratospheric haze layer. However, we provide a characterization of long‐UV‐induced benzene‐containing aerosol analogs, which will contribute to Titan's surface organics layer. These data are of prime interest in the context of the future Dragonfly space mission. Plain Language Summary: Titan, often compared with the early Earth, is the only moon in the solar system to have a dense atmosphere, mainly composed of nitrogen and methane. In the upper part of the atmosphere (>1,000 km), UV photons, photoelectrons, energetic ions and magnetospheric electrons induce the dissociation and the ionization of nitrogen and methane. These reactions lead to the formation of complex organic molecules—including hydrocarbons such as benzene—and aerosols in the high atmosphere (an organic haze responsible for Titan's brownish color), which are subject to different UV radiation classes depending on the altitude. Therefore, during their sedimentation toward the surface, these organic photoproducts are expected to be modified. Once the tropopause is reached, molecules like benzene (C6H6) condense and could evolve under FUV radiations (λ > 200 nm) and contribute to aerosol formation. Key Points: Laboratory experiments demonstrate that the interaction between FUV photons and benzene ice leads to a solid‐state photochemical activityThe in situ monitoring by infrared spectroscopy of the benzene ice photolysis leads to identify the formation of one of benzene's isomer, fulveneThe photo‐produced residue presents some IR features similar to those of Titan's aerosols probed by Cassini/VIMS [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Titan's ionosphere is an important component of the moon's environment. Ionospheric densities above ≈900 km have been studied with in situ measurements, but few density profiles for lower altitudes has been reported. Here we report the generation of the complete set of twenty ionospheric electron density profiles from the Cassini Radio Science Subsystem instrument, including seven profiles not previously reported (inbound and outbound profiles for flybys T101, T102, and T117 and outbound profile for flyby T119). Uncertainties on average electron density profiles are generally 100–250 cm−3. On the whole, the main features of the new profiles are generally consistent with previous studies. Specifically, a single layer of plasma with peak density of 1,000–3,000 cm−3, peak altitude of 1,000–1,300 km, and full‐width at half maximum of a few hundred kilometers. Two new profiles are "disturbed" similar to three identified by previous studies. Based on inspection of the underlying individual profiles, which generally come from two ground stations on opposite sides of Earth, disturbed terrestrial ionospheric conditions are not responsible for the disturbed nature of these Titan ionospheric profiles. A significant plasma layer is present at 500–700 km in several profiles. This low‐altitude plasma layer can occur in profiles that are not disturbed. Key Points: A complete set of Cassini radio occultation profiles of ionospheric electron density at Titan is generatedThese data products are useful for a wide range of studies of Titan's environmentA low‐altitude plasma layer is present in some undisturbed profiles [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The tidal response of Titan′s two largest northern seas, Ligeia Mare and Kraken Mare, is studied by means of a two-dimensional, depth-averaged, shallow water model, SLIM (http://www.climate.be/slim). Kraken Mare is formed of two basins, the northern one being assumed to be linked by a single strait, Trevize Fretum, to Ligeia Mare. The tidal motions tend to be independent of each other in each basin (i.e., Ligeia Mare, Kraken 1 and Kraken 2) which results in sharp transitions in the straits. Our results are overall rather similar to those of Tokano et al. (2014), suggesting that a 2D model such as SLIM is adequate for modelling Titan′s tides and, since it is (presumably) less computationally demanding, may be better for sensitivity studies. For instance, the maximum tidal range in Kraken and Ligeia Maria respectively are 0.29 m and 0.14 m, which is within the range predicted by Lorenz et al. (2014) although smaller by 0.07 m and larger by 0.04 m than the estimates of Tokano et al. (2014) (but it occurs at the same location). The tidal currents are faster (by about one order of magnitude) in the straits linking those Maria than in the basins themselves (with a maximum of 0.36 m/s in the strait linking Kraken 1 and Kraken 2, Seldon Fretum). A decomposition of the tidal history into different harmonic components is carried out. Except in specific areas such as the straits and the amphidromic point(s), the main tidal component has a period of 1 Titan Day. We also briefly studied the eigenmodes of the northern seas whose period is close to the tidal period: such modes are very local. Indeed, their magnitude is significant (with respect to the magnitude of the modes elsewhere in the seas) in small bay(s) or near the islands of Kraken 2 and Ligeia Mare. They are not excited by the tides as they do not appear in the tidal motion. A sensitivity analysis to poorly constrained parameters (bottom friction coefficient, depth of Trevize Fretum and attenuation factor – the latter is briefly discussed with respect to the values of the Love numbers found in the literature) is also conducted. The model parameters are seen to have a significant impact on the liquid exchanges between the basins and, consequently, on the tidal range and phase, fluid velocity and location of amphidromic point(s). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Submillimeter emission lines of carbon monoxide (CO) in Titan’s atmosphere provide excellent probes of atmospheric temperature due to the molecule’s long chemical lifetime and stable, well constrained volume mixing ratio. Here we present the analysis of 4 datasets obtained with the Atacama Large Millimeter/Submillimeter Array (ALMA) in 2012, 2013, 2014, and 2015 that contain strong CO rotational transitions. Utilizing ALMA’s high spatial resolution in the 2012, 2014, and 2015 observations, we extract spectra from 3 separate regions on Titan’s disk using datasets with beam sizes ranging from 0.35 × 0.28″ to 0.39 × 0.34″. Temperature profiles retrieved by the NEMESIS radiative transfer code are compared to Cassini Composite Infrared Spectrometer (CIRS) and radio occultation science results from similar latitude regions. Disk-averaged temperature profiles stay relatively constant from year to year, while small seasonal variations in atmospheric temperature are present from 2012 to 2015 in the stratosphere and mesosphere ( ∼ 100–500 km) of spatially resolved regions. We measure the stratopause (320 km) to increase in temperature by 5 K in northern latitudes from 2012 to 2015, while temperatures rise throughout the stratosphere at lower latitudes. We observe generally cooler temperatures in the lower stratosphere ( ∼ 100 km) than those obtained through Cassini radio occultation measurements, with the notable exception of warming in the northern latitudes and the absence of previous instabilities; both of these results are indicators that Titan’s lower atmosphere responds to seasonal effects, particularly at higher latitudes. While retrieved temperature profiles cover a range of latitudes in these observations, deviations from CIRS nadir maps and radio occultation measurements convolved with the ALMA beam-footprint are not found to be statistically significant, and discrepancies are often found to be less than 5 K throughout the atmosphere. ALMA’s excellent sensitivity in the lower stratosphere (60–300 km) provides a highly complementary dataset to contemporary CIRS and radio science observations, including altitude regions where both of those measurement sets contain large uncertainties. The demonstrated utility of CO emission lines in the submillimeter as a tracer of Titan’s atmospheric temperature lays the groundwork for future studies of other molecular species – particularly those that exhibit strong polar abundance enhancements or are pressure-broadened in the lower atmosphere, as temperature profiles are found to consistently vary with latitude in all three years by up to 15 K. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Nitrogen isotopologues could give in principle valuable constraints on the formation and evolution of Titan’s atmosphere and its interior over geological time. For this purpose, we developed the first photochemical model dedicated to the study of the fractionation of several nitrogen isotopologues. Emphasis has been placed on several nitriles: HCN, CH 3 CN, HC 3 N, C 2 H 3 CN, C 2 H 5 CN. We show that the HCN/HC 15 N and HC 3 N/HC 3 15 N ratios are very sensitive to the production of magnetospheric electrons. So, these compounds can serve as probes to study the putative evolution with time of the production of magnetospheric electrons throughout the atmosphere. We also show that the CH 3 CN/CH 3 C 15 N and C 2 H 5 CN/C 2 H 5 C 15 N ratios are highly sensitive to cosmic rays. So, they can serve as probes to estimate their effect in the lower atmosphere of Titan (100–300 km). Detection of new isotopologues (particularly CH 3 C 15 N) could give strong constraints to photochemical models and could improve our understanding of the main physical and chemical processes at work in Titan’s atmosphere. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Permittivity Wave and Altimetry system on board the Huygens probe observed an ionospheric hidden layer at a much lower altitude than the main ionosphere during its descent through the atmosphere of Titan, the largest satellite of Saturn. Previous studies predicted a similar ionospheric layer. However, neither previous nor post-Huygens theoretical models have been able to reproduce the measurements of the electrical conductivity and charge densities reported by the Mutual Impedance (MI) and Relaxation Probe (RP) sensors. The measurements were made from an altitude of 140 km down to the ground and show a maximum of charge densities of ≈ 2 × 10 9 m −3 positive ions and ≈ 450 × 10 6 m −3 electrons at approximately 65 km. Such a large difference between positive and negative charge densities has not yet been understood. Here, by making use of electron and ion capture processes in to aerosols, we are able to model both electron and positive ion number densities and to reconcile experimental data and model results. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A one dimensional photochemical model for the dayside ionosphere of Titan has been developed for calculating the density profiles of ions and electrons under steady state photochemical equilibrium condition. We concentrated on the T40 flyby of Cassini orbiter and used the in-situ measurements from instruments onboard Cassini as input to the model. An energy deposition model is employed for calculating the attenuated photon flux and photoelectron flux at different altitudes in Titan’s ionosphere. We used the Analytical Yield Spectrum approach for calculating the photoelectron fluxes. Volume production rates of major primary ions, like, N 2 + , N + , CH 4 + , CH 3 + , etc due to photon and photoelectron impact are calculated and used as input to the model. The modeled profiles are compared with the Cassini Ion Neutral Mass Spectrometer (INMS) and Langmuir Probe (LP) measurements. The calculated electron density is higher than the observation by a factor of 2 to 3 around the peak. We studied the impact of different model parameters, viz. photoelectron flux, ion production rates, electron temperature, dissociative recombination rate coefficients, neutral densities of minor species, and solar flux on the calculated electron density to understand the possible reasons for this discrepancy. Recent studies have shown that there is an overestimation in the modeled photoelectron flux and N 2 + ion production rates which may contribute towards this disagreement. But decreasing the photoelectron flux (by a factor of 3) and N 2 + ion production rate (by a factor of 2) decreases the electron density only by 10 to 20%. Reduction in the measured electron temperature by a factor of 5 provides a good agreement between the modeled and observed electron density. The change in HCN and NH 3 densities affects the calculated densities of the major ions (HCNH + , C 2 H 5 + , and CH 5 + ); however the overall impact on electron density is not appreciable ( < 20%). Even though increasing the dissociative recombination rate coefficients of the ions C 2 H 5 + and CH 5 + by a factor of 10 reduces the difference between modeled and observed densities of the major ions, the modeled electron density is still higher than the observation by  ∼ 60% at the peak. We suggest that there might be some unidentified chemical reactions that may account for the additional loss of plasma in Titan’s ionosphere. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In situ data from the GCMS instrument on the Huygens probe indicate that Titan's atmosphere contains small amounts of the primordial noble gases 36 Ar and 22 Ne (tentative detection), but it is unknown how they were obtained by the satellite. Based on the apparent similarity in the 22 Ne/ 36 Ar (atom) ratio between Titan's atmosphere and the solar composition, a previously neglected hypothesis for the origin of primordial noble gases in Titan's atmosphere is suggested – these species may have been acquired near the end of Titan's formation, when the moon could have gravitationally captured some nebular gas that would have been present in its formation environment (the Saturnian subnebula). These noble gases may be remnants of a primary atmosphere. This could be considered the simplest hypothesis to explain the 22 Ne/ 36 Ar ratio observed at Titan. However, the 22 Ne/ 36 Ar ratio may not be exactly solar if these species can be fractionated by external photoevaporation in the solar nebula, atmospheric escape from Titan, or sequestration on the surface of Titan. While the GCMS data are consistent with a 22 Ne/ 36 Ar ratio of 0.05 to 2.5 times solar (1σ range), simple estimates that attempt to account for some of the effects of these evolutionary processes suggest a sub-solar ratio, which may be depleted by approximately one order of magnitude. Models based on capture of nebular gas can explain why the GCMS did not detect any other primordial noble gas isotopes, as their predicted abundances are below the detection limits (especially for 84 Kr and 132 Xe). It is also predicted that atmospheric Xe on Titan should be dominated by radiogenic 129 Xe if the source of primordial Xe is nebular gas. Of order 10 −2 –10 −1 bar of primordial H 2 may have been captured along with the noble gases from a gas-starved disk, but this H 2 would have quickly escaped from the initial atmosphere. To have the opportunity to capture nebular gas, Titan should have formed within ∼10 Myr of the formation of the solar system, before the ultimate source of gas (the solar nebula) dissipated. More specifically, if photoevaporative fractionation happened, the time-evolution for the depletion of permanent gases in the solar nebula can be parameterized to the ∼3 times solar noble gas enrichments of Jupiter for an assumed Jupiter formation time of ∼2 Myr after calcium-aluminum-rich inclusions (CAIs). This allows the construction of a consistent chronology with a Titan formation time of ∼3–4 Myr after CAIs. Because the models presented in this work are pushing the limits of the data from Titan, future mass spectrometric measurements of the noble gases and their isotopes (to at least ppt sensitivity) will be essential to confirm the Huygens detection of 22 Ne, and to constrain the roles of evolutionary processes and mixed sources in determining the noble gas geochemistry of Titan's atmosphere. The clearest indication of a nebular gas source for noble gases on Titan would be a solar-like isotopic ratio of 20 Ne/ 22 Ne ≈ 14. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The formation of aerosols in the atmosphere of Titan is based extensively on ion-neutral chemistry and physical condensation processes. Herein it is shown that the formation of aerosols may also occur through an alternative pathway that involves the physical aggregation of negatively charged particles, which are known to be abundant in the satellite’s atmosphere. It is shown that, given the right circumstances, like-charged particles with a dielectric constant characteristic of nitrated hydrocarbons have sufficient kinetic energy to overcome any repulsive electrostatic barrier that separates them and can subsequently experience an attractive interaction at very short separation. Aerosol growth can then unfold through a charge scavenging process, whereby nitrated aggregates preferentially grow by assimilating smaller like-charged particles. Since hydrocarbon aerosols have much lower dielectric constants, it is shown that a similar mechanism involving hydrocarbon particles will not be as efficient. As a consequence of this proposed growth mechanism, it is suggested that the lower atmosphere of Titan will be enriched in nitrogen-containing aerosols. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The origin of CO and the external source of H 2 O in the atmosphere of Titan is still a matter of debate. We investigated the chemical fractionation of oxygen isotopologues in order to give new constraints on the origin of oxygen species. We created a new chemical scheme and we developed a 1-D time-dependent photochemical model to compute the mole fraction profiles of various oxygen isotopologues. We show that the photochemical fractionation of oxygen isotopologues is quite low. Observations of C 18 O and CO 18 O are compatible with both an external origin or an internal origin of CO considering that the various sources of oxygen have a cometary 16 O/ 18 O ratio ( 16 O/ 18 O ≈ 500). Improvement of the measurements of the 16 O/ 18 O ratio in both Enceladus’ plumes and atmospheric CO 2 could give a valuable constraint on the origin of oxygen in Titan’s atmosphere. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Benzene detection has been reported in Titan's atmosphere both in the stratosphere at ppb levels by remote sensing ( Coustenis et al., 2007 ; Vinatier et al., 2007 ) and in the thermosphere at ppm levels by the Cassini's Ion and Neutral Mass Spectrometer (Waite et al., 2007). This detection supports the idea that aromatic and heteroaromatic reaction pathways may play an important role in Titan's atmospheric chemistry, especially in the formation of aerosols. Indeed, aromatic molecules are easily dissociated by ultraviolet radiation and can therefore contribute significantly to aerosol formation. It has been shown recently that aerosol analogs produced from a gas mixture containing a low concentration of aromatic and/or heteroaromatic molecules (benzene, naphthalene, pyridine, quinoline and isoquinoline) have spectral signatures below 500 cm −1 , a first step towards reproducing the aerosol spectral features observed by Cassini's Composite InfraRed Spectrometer (CIRS) in the far infrared ( Anderson and Samuelson 2011 , and references therein). In this work we investigate the influence of environmental temperature on the absorption spectra of such aerosol samples, simulating the temperature range to which aerosols, once formed, are exposed during their transport through Titan's stratosphere. Our results show that environmental temperature does not have any major effect on the spectral shape of these aerosol analogs in the far-infrared, which is consistent with the CIRS observations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Titan, with its thick, nitrogen-dominated atmosphere, has been seen from satellite and terrestrial observations to harbour methane clouds. To investigate whether atmospheric features such as clouds could also be visible from the surface of Titan, data taken with the Side Looking Imager (SLI) on-board the Huygens probe after landing have been analysed to identify any potential atmospheric features. In total, 82 SLI images were calibrated, processed and examined for features. The calibrated images show a smooth vertical radiance gradient across the images, with no other discernible features. After mean-frame subtraction, six images contained an extended, horizontal feature that had a radiance value that lay outside the 95% confidence limit of the predicted radiance when compared to regions higher and lower in the images. The change in optical depth of these features were found to be between 0.005 and 0.014. It is considered that these features most likely originate from the presence of a fog bank close to the horizon that rises and falls during the period of observation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Rapid escape from a proposed early CH 4 /NH 3 atmosphere on Titan could, in principle, limit the amount of NH 3 that is converted by photolysis into the present N 2 atmosphere. Assuming that this conversion occurred, a recent estimate of escape driven by the surface temperature and pressure was used to constrain Titan's accretion temperature. Here we show that for the range of temperatures of interest, heating of the surface is not the primary driver for escape. Atmospheric loss from a thick Titan atmosphere is predominantly driven by heating of the upper atmosphere; therefore, the loss rate cannot be used to easily constrain the accretion temperature. We give an estimate of the solar driven escape rate from an early atmosphere on Titan, and then briefly discuss its relevance to the cooling rate, isotope ratios, and the time period suggested to convert NH 3 to the present N 2 atmosphere. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the context of the emergence of extra-terrestrial oceanography, we adapted an existing oceanographic model, SLIM (), to the conditions of Titan, a moon of Saturn. The tidal response of the largest southern lake at Titan's surface, namely Ontario Lacus, is simulated. SLIM solves the 2D, depth-averaged shallow water equations on an unstructured mesh using the discontinuous Galerkin finite element method, which allows for high spatial resolution wherever needed. The impact of the wind forcing, the bathymetry, and the bottom friction is also discussed. The predicted maximum tidal range is about 0.56 m in the southern part of the lake, which is more than twice as large as the previous estimates (see Tokano, Ocean Dyn 60:(4) 803-817 (Tokano )). The patterns and magnitude of the current are also markedly different from those of previous studies: the tidal motion is not aligned with the major axis of the lake and the speed is larger nearshore. Indeed, the main tidal component rotates clockwise in an exact period of one Titan day and the tidal currents can reach 0.046 ms close to the shores depending on the geometry and the bathymetry. Except for these specific nearshore regions, the current speed is less than 0.02 ms . Circular patterns can be observed offshore, their rotational direction and size varying along the day. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The reactions of the CN − and C 3 N − anions with cyanoacetylene HC 3 N, of special interest for the chemistry of Titan’s upper atmosphere, have been investigated by means of FTICR mass-spectrometry. Primary ions, CN − and C 3 N − , have been produced by dissociative electron attachment (DEA) from BrCN and BrC 3 N, and prepared in a clean way before reaction. Total rate constants have been measured for both reactions at 300 K and are found to be as follows: (3.9 ± 0.5) × 10 −9 and (1.0 ± 0.2) × 10 −10 cm 3 s −1 for the reaction of HC 3 N with CN − and C 3 N − , respectively. For the CN − + HC 3 N reaction, proton transfer is found to be the only reactive channel within our detection limits. Proton transfer is also dominant for the C 3 N − + HC 3 N reaction but the resulting ionic product being identical to the primary ion C 3 N − , this process is transparent for the kinetics of the C 3 N − + HC 3 N reaction and the kinetic rate retrieved corresponds to a slow and competitive detachment pathway. Yet the nature and energetics of the neutral product(s) formed through this process remain unknown. Additional experiments using isotopic products have allowed to retrieve specific rate constants associated with the proton transfer channel in the C 3 15 N − + HC 3 N and C 3 N − + HC 3 15 N reactions and the measured rates are found to be significantly lower than for the CN − + HC 3 N system. This decrease and the evolution of reactivity when going from CN − to C 3 N − and the opening of a new detachment pathway are finally discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Titan is the only world we know, other than Earth, that has a liquid on its surface. It also has a thick atmosphere composed of nitrogen and methane with a thick organic haze. There are lakes, rain, and clouds of methane and ethane. Here, we address the question of carbon-based life living in Titan liquids. Photochemically produced organics, particularly acetylene, in Titan's atmosphere could be a source of biological energy when reacted with atmospheric hydrogen. Light levels on the surface of Titan are more than adequate for photosynthesis, but the biochemical limitations due to the few elements available in the environment may lead only to simple ecosystems that only consume atmospheric nutrients. Life on Titan may make use of the trace metals and other inorganic elements produced by meteorites as they ablate in its atmosphere. It is conceivable that H2O molecules on Titan could be used in a biochemistry that is rooted in hydrogen bonds in a way that metals are used in enzymes by life on Earth. Previous theoretical work has shown possible membrane structures, azotosomes, in Titan liquids, azotosomes, composed of small organic nitrogen compounds, such as acrylonitrile. The search for a plausible information molecule for life in Titan liquids remains an open research topic--polyethers have been considered and shown to be insoluble at Titan temperatures. Possible search strategies for life on Titan include looking for unusual concentrations of certain molecules reflecting biological selection. Homochirality is a special and powerful example of such biology selection. Environmentally, a depletion of hydrogen in the lower atmosphere may be a sign of metabolism. A discovery of life in liquid methane and ethane would be our first compelling indication that the universe is full of diverse and wondrous life forms. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Bimolecular diffusion coefficients are important parameters used by atmospheric models to calculate altitude profiles of minor constituents in an atmosphere. Unfortunately, laboratory measurements of these coefficients were never conducted at temperature conditions relevant to the atmosphere of Titan. Here we conduct a detailed uncertainty analysis of the bimolecular diffusion coefficient parameters as applied to Titan's upper atmosphere to provide a better understanding of the impact of uncertainty for this parameter on models. Because temperature and pressure conditions are much lower than the laboratory conditions in which bimolecular diffusion parameters were measured, we apply a Bayesian framework, a problem-agnostic framework, to determine parameter estimates and associated uncertainties. We solve the Bayesian calibration problem using the open-source QUESO library which also performs a propagation of uncertainties in the calibrated parameters to temperature and pressure conditions observed in Titan's upper atmosphere. Our results show that, after propagating uncertainty through the Massman model, the uncertainty in molecular diffusion is highly correlated to temperature and we observe no noticeable correlation with pressure. We propagate the calibrated molecular diffusion estimate and associated uncertainty to obtain an estimate with uncertainty due to bimolecular diffusion for the methane molar fraction as a function of altitude. Results show that the uncertainty in methane abundance due to molecular diffusion is in general small compared to eddy diffusion and the chemical kinetics description. However, methane abundance is most sensitive to uncertainty in molecular diffusion above 1200 km where the errors are nontrivial and could have important implications for scientific research based on diffusion models in this altitude range. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Pyrolysis coupled with mass spectry is among the instrumentation the most implemented in planetary exploration probes to analyze the chemical composition of extraterrestrial solid samples. It is used to analyze the volatile species which can be thermally extracted from the samples, including the organic fraction which is of primary interest for astrobiological purposes. However the thermal degradation of these organic materials, which can be very complex in nature or very different from organics commonly present on Earth, is badly known. This leads to a restriction in the optimization of space instrumentation, and in the interpretation of the measurements. In the present work we propose a complete overview of the thermal degradation processes studied on a model of complex organic material produced in an extraterrestrial environment, i.e. laboratory analogues of Titan’s atmospheric aerosols. The thermal evolution of the studied analogues is monitored by following their mass loss, the emitted heating flux, and the evolution of their chemical composition through infrared spectroscopy and elemental analysis. The gaseous products released from the material are also analyzed by mass spectrometry, allowing to better constrain the mechanisms of chemical evolution of the samples. The complex organic material analyzed is found not to be fully decomposed when heated up to about 800 °C, with the evidence that nitrogen is still deeply incorporated in the remaining graphitic carbon nitride residue. The most appropriate pyrolysis temperature to chemically probe the studied material is found to be about 450 °C because at this temperature are detected the largest gaseous molecules which should be the most representative ones of the material pyrolyzed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Dicyanoacetylene has not been observed so far in the gas phase in Titan’s atmosphere but this molecule is still on the list of the detected species, on the basis of the correspondence between a solid phase feature measured at 478 cm −1 in the laboratory and a spectral feature observed by Voyager. In this work, the infrared spectrum of gaseous C 4 N 2 has been investigated to improve our knowledge of the band intensities and the line parameters for this molecule. Results of previously investigated bands have been revised and the intensity of the ν 9 band at 107 cm −1 , measured for the first time, was found to be the strongest absorption in the whole infrared domain. We have also improved the analysis of the complex rotational and hot band structure of C 4 N 2 in order to obtain the first line lists for both bending modes ν 8 and ν 9 . Using our radiative transfer code including the new line list of the strong ν 9 band, we have searched for the signature of C 4 N 2 at 107 cm −1 in the atmosphere of Titan utilizing Titan CIRS far infrared spectra. Despite averaging a large number of CIRS spectra at northern latitudes during the very favorable Titan winter, no gaseous C 4 N 2 could be detected. At the 1- σ level we obtain an abundance upper limit of 5.3 × 10 −10 for the limb average which is lower than or comparable to previously inferred values. As a consequence, the absence or very low amount of gaseous C 4 N 2 makes quite puzzling its presence in the solid phase with an abundance compatible with the observed spectral feature at 478 cm −1 . [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Water–ice-poor, 5-μm-bright material on Saturn’s moon Titan has previously been geomorphologically identified as evaporitic. Here we present a global distribution of the occurrences of the 5-μm-bright spectral unit, identified with Cassini’s Visual Infrared Mapping Spectrometer (VIMS) and examined with RADAR when possible. We explore the possibility that each of these occurrences are evaporite deposits. The 5-μm-bright material covers 1% of Titan’s surface and is not limited to the poles (the only regions with extensive, long-lived surface liquid). We find the greatest areal concentration to be in the equatorial basins Tui Regio and Hotei Regio. Our interpretations, based on the correlation between 5-μm-bright material and lakebeds, imply that there was enough liquid present at some time to create the observed 5-μm-bright material. We address the climate implications surrounding a lack of evaporitic material at the south polar basins: if the south pole basins were filled at some point in the past, then where is the evaporite? [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The atmosphere of Titan is mainly composed of N2 and CH4 which are the source of various CxHyNz photochemical volatiles products. Laboratory simulations of the Titan's atmospheric reactivity were mainly interested in the study of the complex organic chemistry which leads to the formation of analogues of Titan's aerosols, called tholins. These studies were mainly interested in the reactivity of the N2/CH4 gaseous mixture and with the primary products of reactions without oxygen. However, the atmosphere of Titan also contains oxygenated volatile species. The most abundant one to have been detected is CO with a concentration about 50 ppmv. The work presented here is an experimental simulation devoted to estimate the influence of CO on the Titan's atmospheric reactivity. With this aim, CO is introduced in a standard N2/CH4 mixture at different mixing ratio up to 4.5%. The kinetics of the methane consumption is monitored with in situ mass spectrometry and the compositions of the gaseous phase and tholins produced in the reactor are characterized ex situ with GC-MS and elemental analysis. This work shows that CO modifies the composition of the gas phase with the detection of oxygenated compounds: CO2 and N2O. The presence of CO also drastically decreases the production rate of tholins, involving also a perturbation on the methane kinetics. Tholins are produced in lower global amounts, but their sizes are found to be significantly larger than without CO. The oxygen incorporation in tholins is found to be efficient, with an oxygen content of the same order of magnitude as the amount of CO in the initial gas mixture. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The atmospheric electrical conductivity measured by the Permittivity, Wave and Altimetry (PWA) subsystem on board the Huygens probe, during the landing mission on Titan, has been modeled in the present work. Previous modeling studies showed a Galactic Cosmic Ray (GCR) peak of conductivity at a higher altitude and a quantitative overestimation in the altitude range 0-100 km compared to that observed by the PWA instrument. Recently the PWA data was revisited and provided new constraints on the conductivity at altitudes 100-180 km. Because the aerosols in the atmosphere are known to alter the electron concentration, using a detailed distribution of the aerosols at all altitudes, the electron conductivity has been calculated in the altitude range 0-180 km. By using a variable range of photoemission threshold for the aerosols, the present model is able to reasonably predict the altitude at which the GCR peak of conductivity occurs and to meet the new constraints for the conductivity profile. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Highlights: [•] Interior model of Titan is developed that satisfies gravity and topography. [•] Deflections of internal interfaces are quantified and their stability tested. [•] Deflected ocean/ice interface: possible only for viscous layer above cold ocean. [•] Moderately convecting ice shell: possible only with crustal density variations. [•] Mass anomalies in the core are possible sources of observed geoid anomalies. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: Gravity measurements and elevation data from the Cassini mission have been used to create shape, global topography and gravity anomaly models of Titan that enable an improved understanding of its outer ice I shell structure. We provide constraints on the averaged ice shell thickness and its long-wavelength lateral variations, as well as the density of the subsurface ocean using gravity anomalies, the tidal Love number k 2 measurement and long-wavelength topography. We found that Titan’s surface topography is consistent with an approximate isostatically compensated ice shell of variable thickness, likely in a thermally conductive or in a subcritical convective state, overlying a relatively dense subsurface ocean. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: Vertically-resolved spectral characteristics of the Titanian haze in the 2-μm wavelength range were derived from solar occultation spectra measured by Cassini/VIMS on January 15, 2006. At the various altitudes probed by the solar occultation measurements, we reproduced the observed spectra using a radiative transfer program including absorption by CH4 ro-vibrational bands, collision-induced absorption by N2–N2 pairs, and H2–N2 dimers, as well as absorption and scattering by the haze particles. The retrieved optical depth spectra (or τ-spectra) for the haze show marked variations in the 2.1–2.8μm range, with peaks near 2.30 and 2.35μm, and the relative amplitude of these peaks changing with altitude. The gross spectral shape of the τ-spectra is found similar to the typical 2-μm absorption spectra of the alkane group of hydrocarbon (C n H2n+2) ices. The τ-spectra retrieved at 2μm and those previously retrieved at 3μm by Kim et al. (2011) are simultaneously reproduced by combinations of 2- and 3-μm absorbance spectra of alkane ices such as CH4, C2H6, C5H12, C6H14, with the addition of a nitrile ice, CH3CN. These combinations are neither unique nor limited and need more fine-tuning to fit the detailed features of the τ-spectra. There is a need for additional laboratory measurements of absorbance and indices of refraction for a wider variety of hydrocarbon and nitrile ices in the temperature range relevant to Titan. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Highlights: [•] IR observations suggest the existence of organic deposits in Titan’s dry lakebeds. [•] Atmospheric model provide species that could reach the surface in solid form. [•] Titan’s lakes are probably filled with liquid mixture of methane/ethane. [•] We have constructed models of dissolution of solid species in liquid methane/ethane. [•] Evaporation coupled to dissolution allows prediction of evaporite composition. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: The recent measurements by Cassini Ion Neutral Mass Spectrometer (INMS) showed the presence of numerous carbocations and shed light on their composition in Titan's upper atmosphere. The present research identifies an important class of ion-molecule reactions proceeding via carbocation collision complexes, and its implications in the chemistry of Titan's thermosphere and ionosphere. An analysis (based on the kinetics and dynamics of the elementary chemical processes identified) of the Cassini measurements reveals the mechanism of formation of the three-membered Huckel aromatic rings-Cyclopropenyl cation and its cyclic methyl derivatives. For carbocations, a nonclassical three-carbon-center two-electron-bond structure is no longer a controversial topic in chemistry literature. Emphasis has been placed on a future coordinated effort of state-of-the-art laboratory experiments, quantum-chemical calculations, and astronomical ALMA and JWST observations including planetary in situ measurements at millimeter and submillimeter wavelengths to elucidate the structure, energetics and dynamics of the compositions of carbocations detected by Cassini cationic mass spectrometry. The carbocation chemistry in Titan's upper atmosphere has a possible bearing on the organic chemistry and aromaticity in the atmosphere of primitive earth. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: Titan's atmosphere has been extensively studied during the Cassini–Huygens Mission. The polar environment undergoes considerable seasonal variation and is distinct from the more quiescent equatorial environment experienced by the Huygens probe in 2005. The thermal structure of the upper atmosphere is affected by interaction of Titan's atmosphere with the plasma and energetic particles in Saturn's magnetosphere or in the solar wind. Titan's polar regions, and its hydrocarbon lakes in particular, are of interest for future exploration as is the complex organic chemistry that takes place in the upper atmosphere. Thus, specific environmental models are required for future exploration. Furthermore, the models developed to support the design of Huygens had to accommodate wide uncertainties, requiring large design margins. The extensive observations by the Cassini spacecraft (and indeed Huygens itself) provide a basis for narrowing these uncertainties, notably in composition. We provide a description of these new data sets, their scientific basis, and present limitations. The empirically constrained neutral temperatures and densities presented here also have important implications for fundamental chemical modeling. The empirical modeling presented here provides constraints on these models, which will lead to improved estimations of chemical products. Therefore, the paper describes a new model of Titan's atmospheric structure to guide both scientific studies and future engineering studies of exploration of the Saturn system. Of particular interest are aero-capture and aero-braking missions that may enable future exploration of the Saturnian satellite system. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

The coupling of a gas reactor, named APSIS, with a vacuum-ultraviolet (VUV) beamline at the SOLEIL synchrotron radiation facility, for a photochemistry study of gas mixtures, is reported. The reactor may be irradiated windowless with gas pressures up to hundreds of millibar, and thus allows the effect of energetic photons below 100 nm wavelength to be studied on possibly dense media. This set-up is perfectly suited to atmospheric photochemistry investigations, as illustrated by a preliminary report of a simulation of the upper atmospheric photochemistry of Titan, the largest satellite of Saturn. Titan's atmosphere is mainly composed of molecular nitrogen and methane. Solar VUV irradiation with wavelengths no longer than 100 nm on the top of the atmosphere enables the dissociation and ionization of nitrogen, involving a nitrogen chemistry specific to nitrogen-rich upper atmospheres. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: As a result of measurements acquired by the Cassini–Huygens mission of Titan’s near surface atmospheric composition and temperature, Titan conditions can now be simulated in the laboratory and samples can subsequently be subjected to those conditions. Titan demonstrates an active hydrological-like cycle with its thick atmosphere, dynamic clouds, polar lakes of methane and ethane, moist regolith, and extensive fluvial erosive features. Unlike Earth, Titan’s hydrological-like cycle likely involves several constituents, primarily methane and ethane. Here the properties of a new Titan simulation facility are presented, including conceptual methodology, design, implementation, and performance results. The chamber maintains Titan’s surface temperature and pressure, and the sample cryogenic liquids undergoing experimentation are condensed within the chamber itself. During the experiments, the evaporation rates of the sample liquids are directly determined by continually measuring mass. Constituents are analyzed utilizing a Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR), and vapor concentrations are determined using a gas chromatograph fitted with a Flame Ionization Detector (FID). All pertinent data is logged via computer. Under laboratory conditions, the direct measurements of the evaporation rates of methane, ethane, and mixtures thereof can be achieved. Among the processes to be studied are the effects of regolith on transport from the subsurface to the atmosphere, the freezing point depression effects of dissolved nitrogen, and the solubility of various relevant organic compounds. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: A new wavelength-dependent model for CH4 photolysis branching ratios is proposed, based on the values measured recently by Gans et al. (Gans, B. et al. [2011]. Phys. Chem. Chem. Phys. 13, 8140–8152). We quantify the impact of this representation on the predictions of a photochemical model of Titan’s atmosphere, on their precision, and compare to earlier representations. Although the observed effects on the mole fraction of the species are small (never larger than 50%), it is possible to draw some recommendations for further studies: (i) the Ly-α branching ratios of Wang et al. (Wang, J.H. et al. [2000]. J. Chem. Phys. 113, 4146–4152) used in recent models overestimate the CH2:CH3 ratio, a factor to which a lot of species are sensitive; (ii) the description of out-of-Ly-α branching ratios by the “100% CH3” scenario has to be avoided, as it can bias significantly the mole fractions of some important species (C3H8); and (iii) complementary experimental data in the 130–140nm range would be useful to constrain the models in the Ly-α deprived 500–700km altitude range. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: Titan’s polar regions, and its hydrocarbon lakes in particular, are of interest for future exploration. The polar conditions have considerable seasonal variation and are distinct from the equatorial environment experienced by Huygens. Thus specific environmental models are required for these regions. This paper, informed by Cassini and groundbased observations and four independent Global Circulation Models (GCMs), summarizes northern summer polar conditions (specifically, regions north of 65°N, during the 2023–2024 period, or solar longitude L s ∼150o–170°) and presents a simple analytical formulation of expected, minimum and maximum winds as a function of altitude to aid spacecraft and instrument design for future exploration, with particular reference to the descent dispersions of the Titan Mare Explorer (TiME) mission concept presently under development. We also consider winds on the surface, noting that these (of relevance for impact conditions, for waves, and for wind-driven drift of a floating capsule) are weaker than those in the lowest cell in most GCMs: some previously-reported estimates of ‘surface’ wind speeds (actually at 90–500m altitude) should be reduced by 20–35% to refer to the standard 10m ‘anemometer height’ applicable for surface phenomena. A Weibull distribution with scale speed C=0.4m/s and shape parameter k=2.0 embraces the GCM-predicted surface wind speeds. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: Here we report the measurement of water vapor in Titan’s stratosphere using the Cassini Composite Infrared Spectrometer (CIRS, Flasar, F.M. et al. [2004]. Space Sci. Rev. 115, 169–297). CIRS senses water emissions in the far infrared spectral region near 50μm, which we have modeled using two independent radiative transfer codes (NEMESIS (Irwin, P.G.J. et al. [2008]. J. Quant. Spectrosc. Radiat. Trans. 109, 1136–1150) and ART (Coustenis, A. et al. [2007]. Icarus 189, 35–62; Coustenis, A. et al. [2010]. Icarus 207, 461–476). From the analysis of nadir spectra we have derived a mixing ratio of 0.14±0.05ppb at an altitude of 97km, which corresponds to an integrated (from 0 to 600km) surface normalized column abundance of 3.7±1.3×1014 molecules/cm2. In the latitude range 80°S to 30°N we see no evidence for latitudinal variations in these abundances within the error bars. Using limb observations, we obtained mixing ratios of 0.13±0.04ppb at an altitude of 115km and 0.45±0.15ppb at an altitude of 230km, confirming that the water abundance has a positive vertical gradient as predicted by photochemical models (e.g. Lara, L.M., Lellouch, F., Lopez-Moreno, J.J., Rodrigo, R. [1996]. J. Geophys. Res. 101(23), 261; Wilson, E.H., Atreya, S.K. [2004]. J. Geophys. Res. 109, E6; Hörst, S.M., Vuitton, V., Yelle, R.V. [2008]. J. Geophys. Res., 113, E10). We have also fitted our data using scaling factors of ∼0.1–0.6 to these photochemical model profiles, indicating that the models over-predict the water abundance in Titan’s lower stratosphere. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: Recently the Cassini Ultraviolet Imaging Spectrograph (UVIS) has revealed the presence of N2 Vegard–Kaplan (VK) band emissions in Titan’s dayglow limb observation. We present model calculations for the production of various N2 triplet states (viz., , and B3Σ u ) in the upper atmosphere of Titan. The Analytical Yield Spectra technique is used to calculate steady state photoelectron fluxes in Titan’s atmosphere, which are in agreement with those observed by the Cassini’s CAPS instrument. Considering direct electron impact excitation, inter-state cascading, and quenching effects, the population of different levels of N2 triplet states are calculated under statistical equilibrium. Densities of all vibrational levels of each triplet state and volume production rates for various triplet states are calculated in the model. Vertically integrated overhead intensities for the same date and lighting conditions as reported by the UVIS observations for N2 Vegard–Kaplan , First Positive , Second Positive (C 3Π u − B 3Π g ), Wu–Benesch (W 3Δ u − B 3Π g ), and Reverse First Positive bands of N2 are found to be 132, 114, 19, 22, and 22R, respectively. Overhead intensities are calculated for each vibrational transition of all the triplet band emissions of N2, which span a wider spectrum of wavelengths from ultraviolet to infrared. The calculated limb intensities of total and prominent transitions of VK band are presented. The model limb intensity of VK emission within the 150–190nm wavelength region is in good agreement with the Cassini UVIS observed limb profile. An assessment of the impact of solar EUV flux on the N2 triplet band emission intensity has been made by using three different solar flux models, viz., Solar EUV Experiment (SEE), SOLAR2000 (S2K) model of Tobiska (Tobiska, W.K. [2004]. Adv. Space Res. 34, 1736–1746), and HEUVAC model of Richards et al. (Richards, P.G., Woods, T.N., Peterson, W.K. [2006]. Adv. Space Res. 37 (2), 315–322). The calculated N2 VK band intensity at the peak of limb intensity due to S2K and HEUVAC solar flux models is a factor of 1.2 and 0.9, respectively, of that obtained using SEE solar EUV flux. The effects of higher N2 density and solar zenith angle on the emission intensity are also studied. The model predicted N2 triplet band intensities during moderate (F10.7=150) and high (F10.7=240) solar activity conditions, using SEE solar EUV flux, are a factor of 2 and 2.8, respectively, higher than those during solar minimum (F10.7=68) condition. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: Titan’s optical and near-IR spectra result primarily from the scattering of sunlight by haze and its absorption by methane. With a column abundance of 92km amagat (11 times that of Earth), Titan’s atmosphere is optically thick and only ∼10% of the incident solar radiation reaches the surface, compared to 57% on Earth. Such a formidable atmosphere obstructs investigations of the moon’s lower troposphere and surface, which are highly sensitive to the radiative transfer treatment of methane absorption and haze scattering. The absorption and scattering characteristics of Titan’s atmosphere have been constrained by the Huygens Probe Descent Imager/Spectral Radiometer (DISR) experiment for conditions at the probe landing site (Tomasko, M.G., Bézard, B., Doose, L., Engel, S., Karkoschka, E. [2008a]. Planet. Space Sci. 56, 624–247; Tomasko, M.G. et al. [2008b]. Planet. Space Sci. 56, 669–707). Cassini’s Visual and Infrared Mapping Spectrometer (VIMS) data indicate that the rest of the atmosphere (except for the polar regions) can be understood with small perturbations in the high haze structure determined at the landing site (Penteado, P.F., Griffith, C.A., Tomasko, M.G., Engel, S., See, C., Doose, L., Baines, K.H., Brown, R.H., Buratti, B.J., Clark, R., Nicholson, P., Sotin, C. [2010]. Icarus 206, 352–365). However the in situ measurements were analyzed with a doubling and adding radiative transfer calculation that differs considerably from the discrete ordinates codes used to interpret remote data from Cassini and ground-based measurements. In addition, the calibration of the VIMS data with respect to the DISR data has not yet been tested. Here, VIMS data of the probe landing site are analyzed with the DISR radiative transfer method and the faster discrete ordinates radiative transfer calculation; both models are consistent (to within 0.3%) and reproduce the scattering and absorption characteristics derived from in situ measurements. Constraints on the atmospheric opacity at wavelengths outside those measured by DISR, that is from 1.6 to 5.0μm, are derived using clouds as diffuse reflectors in order to derive Titan’s surface albedo to within a few percent error and cloud altitudes to within 5km error. VIMS spectra of Titan at 2.6–3.2μm indicate not only spectral features due to CH4 and CH3D (Rannou, P., Cours, T., Le Mouélic, S., Rodriguez, S., Sotin, C., Drossart, P., Brown, R. [2010]. Icarus 208, 850–867), but also a fairly uniform absorption of unknown source, equivalent to the effects of a darkening of the haze to a single scattering albedo of 0.63±0.05. Titan’s 4.8μm spectrum point to a haze optical depth of 0.2 at that wavelength. Cloud spectra at 2μm indicate that the far wings of the Voigt profile extend 460cm−1 from methane line centers. This paper releases the doubling and adding radiative transfer code developed by the DISR team, so that future studies of Titan’s atmosphere and surface are consistent with the findings by the Huygens Probe. We derive the surface albedo at eight spectral regions of the 8×12km2 area surrounding the Huygens landing site. Within the 0.4–1.6μm spectral region our surface albedos match DISR measurements, indicating that DISR and VIMS measurements are consistently calibrated. These values together with albedos at longer 1.9–5.0μm wavelengths, not sampled by DISR, resemble a dark version of the spectrum of Ganymede’s icy leading hemisphere. The eight surface albedos of the landing site are consistent with, but not deterministic of, exposed water ice with dark impurities. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: We discuss the high energy electron absorption signatures at Titan during the Cassini dayside magnetospheric encounters. We use the electron measurements of the Low Energy Measurement System of the Magnetospheric Imaging Instrument. We also examine the mass loading boundary based on the ion data of the Ion Mass Spectrometer sensor of the Cassini Plasma Spectrometer. The dynamic motion of the Kronian magnetopause and the periodic charged particle flux and magnetic field variations – associated with the magnetodisk of Saturn – of the subcorotating magnetospheric plasma creates a unique and complex environment at Titan. Most of the analysed flybys (like T25–T33 and T35–T51) cluster at similar Saturn Local Time positions. However the instantaneous direction of the incoming magnetospheric particles may change significantly from flyby to flyby due to the very different magnetospheric field conditions which are found upstream of Titan within the sets of encounters. The energetic magnetospheric electrons gyrate along the magnetic field lines of Saturn, and at the same time bounce between the mirror points of the magnetosphere. This motion is combined with the drift of the magnetic field lines. When these flux tubes interact with the upper atmosphere of Titan, their content is depleted over approximately an electron bounce period. These depletion signatures are observed as sudden drop-outs of the electron fluxes. We examined the altitude distribution of these drop-outs and concluded that these mostly detected in the exo-ionosphere of Titan and sometimes within the ionosphere. However there is a relatively significant scatter in the orbit to orbit data, which can be attributed to the which can be attributed to the variability of the plasma environment and as a consequence, the induced magnetosphere of Titan. A weak trend between the incoming electron fluxes and the measured drop-out altitudes has also been observed. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: The Huygens Probe provided a wealth of data concerning the atmosphere of Titan. It also provided tantalizing evidence of a small amount of surface liquid. We have developed a detailed surface energy balance for the Probe landing site. We find that the daily averaged non-radiative fluxes at the surface are 0.7Wm−2, much larger than the global average value predicted by of 0.037Wm−2. Considering the moist surface, the methane and ethane detected by the Probe from the surface is consistent with a ternary liquid of ethane, methane, and nitrogen present on the surface with mole fractions of methane, ethane, and nitrogen of 0.44, 0.34, and 0.22, respectively, and a total mass load of ∼0.05kgm−2. If this liquid is included in the surface energy balance, only a small fraction of the non-radiative energy is due to latent heat release (∼10−3 Wm−2). If the amount of atmospheric ethane is less than 0.6×10−5, the surface liquid is most likely evaporating over timescales of 5 Titan days, and the moist surface is probably a remnant of a recent precipitation event. If the surface liquid mass loading is increased to 0.5kgm−2, then the liquid lifetime increases to ∼56 Titan days. Our modeling results indicate a dew cycle is unlikely, given that even when the diurnal variation of liquid is in equilibrium, the diurnal mass variation is only 3% of the total liquid. If we assume a high atmospheric mixing ratio of ethane (>0.6×10−5), the precipitation of liquid is large (38cm/Titan year for an ethane mixing ratio of 2×10−5). Such a flux is many orders of magnitude in excess of the photochemical production rate of ethane. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: Saturn''s Moon Titan has a thick atmosphere with a meteorological cycle. We report on the evolution of the giant cloud system covering its north pole using observations acquired by the Visual and Infrared Mapping Spectrometer onboard the Cassini spacecraft. A radiative transfer model in spherical geometry shows that the clouds are found at an altitude between 30 and 65km. We also show that the polar cloud system vanished progressively as Titan approached equinox in August 2009, revealing at optical wavelengths the underlying sea known as Kraken Mare. This decrease of activity suggests that the north-polar downwelling has begun to shut off. Such a scenario is compared with the Titan global circulation model of , which predicts a decrease of cloud coverage in northern latitudes at the same period of time. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: We use two independent General Circulation Models (GCMs) to estimate surface winds at Titan’s Ligeia Mare (78°N, 250°W), motivated by a proposed mission to land a floating capsule in this ∼500km hydrocarbon sea. The models agree on the overall magnitude (∼0.5–1m/s) and seasonal variation (strongest in summer) of windspeeds, but details of seasonal and diurnal variation of windspeed and direction differ somewhat, with the role of surface exchanges being more significant than that of gravitational tides in the atmosphere. We also investigate the tidal dynamics in the sea using a numerical ocean dynamics model: assuming a rigid lithosphere, the tidal amplitude is up to ∼0.8m. Tidal currents are overall proportional to the reciprocal of depth—with an assumed central depth of 300m, the characteristic tidal currents are ∼1cm/s, with notable motions being a slosh between Ligeia’s eastern and western lobes, and a clockwise flow pattern. We find that a capsule will drift at approximately one tenth of the windspeed, unless measures are adopted to augment the drag areas above or below the waterline. Thus motion of a floating capsule is dominated by the wind, and is likely to be several km per Earth day, a rate that will be readily measured from Earth by radio navigation methods. In some instances, the wind vector rotates diurnally such that the drift trajectory is epicyclic. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: We report a wide-ranging study of Titan''s surface temperatures by analysis of the Moon''s outgoing radiance through a spectral window in the thermal infrared at 19μm (530cm−1) characterized by lower atmospheric opacity. We begin by modeling Cassini Composite Infrared Spectrometer (CIRS) far infrared spectra collected in the period 2004–2010, using a radiative transfer forward model combined with a non-linear optimal estimation inversion method. At low-latitudes, we agree with the HASI near-surface temperature of about 94K at 10°S (). We find a systematic decrease from the equator toward the poles, hemispherically asymmetric, of ∼1K at 60° south and ∼3K at 60° north, in general agreement with a previous analysis of CIRS data (), and with Voyager results from the previous northern winter. Subdividing the available database, corresponding to about one Titan season, into 3 consecutive periods, small seasonal changes of up to 2K at 60°N became noticeable in the results. In addition, clear evidence of diurnal variations of the surface temperatures near the equator are observed for the first time: we find a trend of slowly increasing temperature from the morning to the early afternoon and a faster decrease during the night. The diurnal change is ∼1.5K, in agreement with model predictions for a surface with a thermal inertia between 300 and 600Jm−2 s−1/2 K−1. These results provide important constraints on coupled surface–atmosphere models of Titan''s meteorology and atmospheric dynamic. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: Titan shows its surface through many methane windows in the 1–5 region. Windows at shorter wavelengths also exist, polluted by scattering off of atmospheric haze that reduces the surface contrast. At visible wavelengths, the surface of Titan has been observed by Voyager I, the Hubble Space Telescope, and ground-based telescopes. We present here global surface mapping of Titan using the visible wavelength channels from Cassini''s Visual and Infrared Mapping Spectrometer (VIMS). We show global maps in each of the VIMS-V channels extending from 0.35 to 1.05 . We find methane windows at 0.637, 0.681, 0.754, 0.827, 0.937, and and apply an RGB color scheme to the 0.754, 0.827 and windows to search for surface albedo variations. Our results show that Titan appears gray at visible wavelengths; hence scattering albedo is a good approximation of the Bond albedo. Maps of this genre have already been made and published using the infrared channels of VIMS. Ours are the first global maps of Titan shortward of . We compare the older IR maps to the new VIMS-V maps to constrain surface composition. For instance Tui Regio and Hotei Regio, referred to as bright spots in previous papers, do not distinguish themselves at all visible wavelengths. The distinction between the dune areas and the bright albedo spots, however, such as the difference between Xanadu and Senkyo, is easily discernible. We employ an empirically derived algorithm to remove haze layers from Titan, revealing a better look at the surface contrast. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: A review of non-local, deep transport mechanisms in the atmosphere of Earth provides a good foundation for examining whether similar mechanisms are operating in the atmospheres of Mars and Titan. On Earth, deep convective clouds in the tropics constitute the upward branch of the Hadley Cell and provide a conduit through which energy, moisture, momentum, aerosols, and chemical species are moved from the boundary layer to the upper troposphere and lower stratosphere. This transport produces mid-tropospheric minima in quantities such as water vapor and moist static energy and maxima where the clouds detrain. Analogs to this terrestrial transport are found in the strong and deep thermal circulations associated with topography on Mars and with Mars dust storms. Observations of elevated dust layers on Mars further support the notion that non-local deep transport is an important mechanism in the atmosphere of Mars. On Titan, the presence of deep convective clouds almost assures that non-local, deep transport is occurring and these clouds may play a role in global cycling of energy, momentum, and methane. Based on the potential importance of non-local deep transport in Earth''s atmosphere and supported by evidence for such transport in the atmospheres of Mars and Titan, greater attention to this mechanism in extraterrestrial atmospheres is warranted. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: We report observations of Titan''s high-altitude exosphere detected out to about 50,000km altitude. The observations were made by the Ion Neutral Camera (INCA) on board the Cassini spacecraft. INCA detects energetic neutral atoms (ENA) that are formed when the ambient magnetospheric ions charge exchange with Titan''s neutral atmosphere and exosphere. We find that Titan''s exospheric H2 distribution follows closely a full Chamberlain distribution including ballistic, escaping and satellite distributions. As expected, neutral densities are dominated by a satellite distribution above about 10,000km. The maximum detectable extent of the exosphere (∼50,000km) coincides with the radius of the Hill sphere of gravitational influence from Saturn. While we find no direct indications of a neutral Titan torus with densities greater than about 1000cm−3, we observe interesting asymmetries in the distribution that warrants further investigation. Based on these findings we compute the average precipitating ENA flux to be about 5×106 keV/(cm2 s), or 8×10−3 erg/(cm2 s), which is directly comparable to that of precipitating energetic ions () and slightly higher than that of solar EUV (). Thus, the energy deposited by precipitating ENAs must also be taken into consideration when studying the energy balance of Titan''s thermosphere. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: Titan''s fluvial channels have been investigated based on data obtained by the Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) instrument and the Visible and Infrared Mapping Spectrometer (VIMS) onboard the Cassini spacecraft. In this paper, a database of fluvial features is created based on radar-SAR data aiming to unveil the distribution and the morphologic and spectral characteristics of valleys on Titan on a global scale. It will also study the spatial relations between fluvial valleys and Titan''s geologic units and spectral surface units which have become accessible thanks to Cassini-VIMS data. Several distinct morphologic types of fluvial valleys can be discerned by SAR-images. Dendritic valley networks appear to have much in common with terrestrial dendritic systems owing to a hierarchical and tree-shaped arrangement of the tributaries which is indicative of an origin from precipitation. Dry valleys constitute another class of valleys resembling terrestrial wadis, an indication of episodic and strong flow events. Other valley types, such as putative canyons, cannot be correlated with rainfall based on their morphology alone, since it cannot be ruled out that they may have originated from volcanic/tectonic action or groundwater sapping. Highly developed and complex fluvial networks with channel lengths of up to 1200km and widths of up to 10km are concentrated only at a few locations whereas single valleys are scattered over all latitudes. Fluvial valleys are frequently found in mountainous areas. Some terrains, such as equatorial dune fields and undifferentiated plains at mid-latitudes, are almost entirely free of valleys. Spectrally, fluvial terrains are often characterized by a high reflectance in each of Titan''s atmospheric windows, as most of them are located on Titan''s bright ‘continents’. Nevertheless, valleys are spatially associated with a surface unit appearing blue due to its higher reflection at in a VIMS false color RGB composite with R: , G: , and B: ; the channels either dissect pure bluish surface units or they are carved into terrain with a mixed spectral signature between bright and bluish surface materials. The global picture of fluvial flows clearly indicates a high diversity of parameters controlling fluvial erosion, such as climatic processes, as well as surface and bedrock types. Recent fluvial activity is very likely in the north polar region in contrast to more arid conditions at lower latitudes and at the south pole of Titan. This divergence is probably an indication of seasonal climatic asymmetries between the hemispheres. However, traces of previous fluvial activity are scattered over all latitudes of Titan, which is indicative of previous climatic conditions with at least episodic rainfall. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: Senkyo is an equatorial plain on Titan filled with dunes and surrounded by hummocky plateaus. During the Titan targeted flyby T61 on August 25, 2009, the Cassini Visual and Infrared Mapping Spectrometer (VIMS) onboard the Cassini spacecraft observed a circular feature, centered at 5.4° N and 341°W, that superimposes the dune fields and a bright plateau. This circular feature, which has been named Paxsi by the International Astronomical Union, is 120±10km in diameter (measured from the outer edge of the crater rim) and exhibits a central bright area that can be interpreted as the central peak or pit of an impact crater. Although there are only a handful of certain impact craters on Titan, there are two other craters that are of similar size to this newly discovered feature and that have been studied by VIMS: Sinlap () and Selk (). Sinlap is associated with a large downwind, fan-like feature that may have been formed from an impact plume that rapidly expanded and deposited icy particles onto the surface. Although much of the surrounding region is covered with dunes, the plume region is devoid of dunes. The formation process of Selk also appears to have removed (or covered up) dunes from parts of the adjacent dune-filled terrain. The circular feature on Senkyo is quite different: there is no evidence of an ejecta blanket and the crater itself appears to be infilled with dune material. The rim of the crater appears to be eroded by fluvial processes; at one point the rim is breached. The rim is unusually narrow, which may be due to mass wasting on its inside and subsequent infill by dunes. Based on these observations, we interpret this newly discovered feature to be a more eroded crater than both Sinlap and Selk. Paxsi may have formed during a period when Titan was warmer and more ductile than it is currently. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: Earth and Titan are two planetary bodies formed far from each other. Nevertheless the chemical composition of their atmospheres exhibits common indications of being produced by the accretion, plus ulterior in-situ processing of cometary materials. This is remarkable because while the Earth formed in the inner part of the disk, presumably from the accretion of rocky planetesimals depleted in oxygen and exhibiting a chemical similitude with enstatite chondrites, Titan formed within Saturn''s sub-nebula from oxygen- and volatile-rich bodies, called cometesimals. From a cosmochemical and astrobiological perspective, the study of the H, C, N, and O isotopes on Earth and Titan could be the key to decipher the processes occurred in the early stages of formation of both planetary bodies. The main goal of this paper is to quantify the presumable ways of chemical evolution of both planetary bodies, in particular the abundance of CO and N2 in their early atmospheres. In order to do that the primeval atmospheres and evolution of Titan and Earth have been analyzed from a thermodynamic point of view. The most relevant chemical reactions involving these species and presumably important at their early stages are discussed. Then, we have interpreted the results of this study in light of the results obtained by the Cassini–Huygens mission on these species and their isotopes. Given that H, C, N, and O were preferentially depleted from inner disk materials that formed our planet, the observed similitude of their isotopic fractionation, and subsequent close evolution of Earth''s and Titan''s atmospheres points towards a cometary origin of Earth atmosphere. Consequently, our scenario also supports the key role of late veneers (comets and water-rich carbonaceous asteroids) enriching the volatile content of the Earth at the time of the late heavy bombardment of terrestrial planets. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: We report a revised crater population for Titan using Cassini RADAR data through January 2010 (flyby T65), and make a size-dependent correction for the incomplete coverage (∼33%) using a Monte-Carlo model. Qualitatively, Titan’s landscape is more heavily cratered than Earth, but much less than Mars or Ganymede: the area fraction covered by craters is in fact comparable with that of Venus. Quantitative efforts to interpret crater densities for Titan as surface age have been confounded by widely divergent crater production rates proposed in the literature. We elucidate the specific model assumptions that lead to these differences (assumed projectile density, scaling function for simple crater diameter, and complex crater size exponent) and suggest these are reasonable bounding models, with the model representing a crater retention age of ∼1Ga, and the model representing a crater retention age of ∼200Ma. These estimates are consistent with models of Titan’s evolution that predict a thickening of its crust 0.3–1.2Gyr ago. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: Titan’s moment of inertia (MoI), estimated from the quadrupole gravity field measured by the Cassini spacecraft, is 0.342, which has been interpreted as evidence of a partially differentiated internal mass distribution. It is shown here that the observed MoI is equally consistent with a fully differentiated internal structure comprising a shell of water ice overlying a low-density silicate core; depending on the chemistry of Titan’s subsurface ocean, the core radius is between 1980 and 2120km, and its uncompressed density is 2570–2460kgm−3, suggestive of a hydrated CI carbonaceous chondrite mineralogy. Both the partially differentiated and fully differentiated hydrated core models constrain the deep interior to be several hundred degrees cooler than previously thought. I propose that Titan has a warm wet core below, or buffered at, the high-pressure dehydration temperature of its hydrous constituents, and that many of the gases evolved by thermochemical and radiogenic processes in the core (such as CH4 and 40Ar, respectively) diffuse into the icy mantle to form clathrate hydrates, which in turn may provide a comparatively impermeable barrier to further diffusion. Hence we should not necessarily expect to see a strong isotopic signature of serpentinization in Titan’s atmosphere. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: Seasonality in Titan’s troposphere is driven by latitudinally varying insolation. We show that the latitudinal distributions of insolation in the troposphere and at the surface, based on Huygens DISR measurements, can be approximated analytically with nonzero extinction optical depths τ, and are not equivalent to that at the top of the atmosphere (τ =0), as has been assumed previously. This has implications for the temperature distribution and the circulation, which we explore with a simple box model. The surface temperature maximum and the upwelling arm of thermally-direct meridional circulation reach the midlatitudes, not the poles, during summertime. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: We present results from the two radio occultations of the Cassini spacecraft by Titan in 2006, which probed mid-southern latitudes. Three of the ingress and egress soundings occurred within a narrow latitude range, 31–34°S near the surface, and the fourth at 52.8°S. Temperature–altitude profiles for all four occultation soundings are presented, and compared with the results of the Voyager 1 radio occultation (Lindal, G.F., Wood, G.E., Hotz, H.B., Sweetnam, D.N., Eshleman, V.R., Tyler, G.L. [1983]. Icarus 53, 348–363), the HASI instrument on the Huygens descent probe (Fulchignoni, M. et al. [2005]. Nature 438, 785–791), and Cassini CIRS results (Flasar, F.M. et al. [2005]. Science 308, 975–978; Achterberg, R.K., Conrath, B.J., Gierasch, P.J., Flasar, F.M., Nixon, C.A. [2008b]. Icarus 194, 263–277). Sources of error in the retrieved temperature–altitude profiles are also discussed, and a major contribution is from spacecraft velocity errors in the reconstructed ephemeris. These can be reduced by using CIRS data at 300km to make along-track adjustments of the spacecraft timing. The occultation soundings indicate that the temperatures just above the surface at 31–34°S are about 93K, while that at 53°S is about 1K colder. At the tropopause, the temperatures at the lower latitudes are all about 70K, while the 53°S profile is again 1K colder. The temperature lapse rate in the lowest 2km for the two ingress (dawn) profiles at 31 and 33°S lie along a dry adiabat except within ∼200m of the surface, where a small stable inversion occurs. This could be explained by turbulent mixing with low viscosity near the surface. The egress profile near 34°S shows a more complex structure in the lowest 2km, while the egress profile at 53°S is more stable. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]