Titan's atmosphere: temperature and dynamics (original) (raw)

Nature volume 292, pages 693–698 (1981)Cite this article

Abstract

In the lower atmosphere of Titan IR brightness temperatures exhibit meridional contrast ≲3 K. Seasonal variations are absent because of the large radiative time constant. In the upper stratosphere meridional contrasts are ∼20 K, consistent with 100 m s−1 cyclostrophic zonal winds, and the radiative time constant is short, implying a large seasonal variation in the temperature and wind field. The absence of longitudinal thermal structure implies that zonally symmetric flows effect the meridional transport of heat. A simple model yields meridional velocities ∼0.04 cm s−1 and vertical eddy viscosities ∼103 cm2 s−1 in the lower troposphere, and meridional velocities ∼5 cm s−1 in the upper stratosphere.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Laboratory for Extraterrestrial Physics, NASA/Goddard Space Flight Center, Greenbelt, Maryland, 20771, USA
    F. M. Flasar, R. E. Samuelson & B. J. Conrath

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  1. F. M. Flasar
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  2. R. E. Samuelson
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  3. B. J. Conrath
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Flasar, F., Samuelson, R. & Conrath, B. Titan's atmosphere: temperature and dynamics.Nature 292, 693–698 (1981). https://doi.org/10.1038/292693a0

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