The Influence of Atmospheric and Surficial Processes on Titan Organics

The Cassini-Huygens mission has demonstrated that the atmosphere of Titan undergoes very complex organic chemistry. The synthesis of large molecules and ions take place in the upper atmosphere as revealed by the Cassini INMS[1] [2], which contributes to the hazes that are deposited onto the surface. Data from the GCMS instrument, moreover, has exposed the surface consisting of a much larger variety of species than what has been found in the stratosphere. These chemical species are affected by the heterogeneous nature of Titan's surface, which includes haze deposits, condensed organics, influx of high-energy particles, and methane replenishment from the interior [3]. We will present preliminary results from a study of the chemical processing of organics under these influences, constrained by GCMS data. References [1] J.H. Waite, et al., Science., 316, 870 (2007). [2] V. Vuitton, et al., Ap. J., 647, L175 (2006). [3] S.K. Atreya, et al., Planet. Space Sci., 54, 1177 (2006)