Titan's Stratospheric Aerosols and Condensate Clouds as Observed with Cassini CIRS
Abstract
Four broad spectral features were identified in far-infrared limb spectra from the Cassini Composite Infrared Spectrometer (CIRS). The features are broader than the spectral resolution, which suggests that they are caused by particulates in Titan's stratosphere. We derive here the spectral properties and variations with altitude and latitude for these four features. Titan's main aerosol is called Haze 0 here. It is present at all wavenumbers in the far-infrared and is found to have a fractional scale height between 1.6-1.7 with a small increase in opacity in the north. A second feature around 140 cm-1 (Haze A) has similar spatial properties to Haze 0, but has a smaller fractional scale height of 1.2-1.3. Both Haze 0 and Haze A show an increase in abundance below 100 km, perhaps indicative of a scattering cloud. Two other features (Haze B around 220 cm-1 and Haze C around 190 cm-1) have a large maximum in their density profiles at 140 km and 90 km respectively. Haze B is much more abundant in the northern hemisphere compared to the southern hemisphere. Haze C also shows a large increase towards the north, but then disappears at 85oN. This work is supported by the Prins Bernhard Cultuurfond and Pieter Beijer Fonds.
- Publication:
-
AAS/Division for Planetary Sciences Meeting Abstracts #38
- Pub Date:
- September 2006
- Bibcode:
- 2006DPS....38.2203D