A spherical model for polarized radiation in Titan's atmosphere
Abstract
In January 2005, the Huygens probe will descent through Titan's atmosphere. The Descent Imager Spectral Radiometer (DISR) onboard of the probe will perform upward and downward looking observations at various spectral ranges, spatial resolutions and including polarization. To prepare for DISR data interpretation we have developed a new model for radiation transfer in the Titan's atmosphere. The model solves for the full 3-D polarized radiation field in spherical geometry. The atmosphere itself however, is assumed to be spherically symmetric. The model is initialized with a fast plane parallel solution that includes a spherical correction for the incoming solar radiation. The full 3-D model is then solved using the short-characteristic method with the Picard iterative approximation. The single scattering by the aerosols is described with a fractal aggregates model. The model includes solar source, internal thermal source and methane absorption. The results for Titan's atmosphere internal radiation field is presented for DISR wavelengths.
- Publication:
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AAS/Division for Planetary Sciences Meeting Abstracts #34
- Pub Date:
- September 2002
- Bibcode:
- 2002DPS....34.2205S