Lunine, Jonathan I. and Stevenson, David J. (1985) Evolution of Titan's coupled Ocean-Atmosphere system and interaction of ocean with bedrock. In: Ices in the solar system. NATO ASI series. Series C, Mathematical and physical sciences. No.156. Kluwer Academic , Dordrecht, pp. 741-757. ISBN 9789027720627. https://resolver.caltech.edu/CaltechAUTHORS:20130730-152613347
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Abstract
A recent model for the surface state of Titan proposes a liquid ethane-methane-molecular nitrogen layer of order one kilometer thick which because of stratospheric methane photolysis has become increasingly ethane-rich with time (1). We explore the interaction of such an ocean with the underlying "bedrock" of Titan (assumed to be water-ice or ammonia hydrate) and with the primarily nitrogen atmosphere. It is concluded that although modest exchange of oceanic hydrocarbons with enclathrated methane in the bedrock can in principle occur, it is unlikely for reasonable regolith depths. The surprisingly high solubility of water ice in liquid methane (2) implies that topographic features on Titan of order 100 meter in height can be eroded away on a time scale ≾10^9 years. The large solubility difference of N_2 in methane versus ethane implies that the ocean composition is a strong determinant of atmospheric pressure; a simple radiative model of the Titan atmosphere is employed to demonstrate that significant surface pressure and temperature changes can occur as the oceanic composition evolves with time.
Item Type: | Book Section | ||||||
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Additional Information: | © 1985 D. Reidel Publishing Company. This work was supported by NASA Grant NAGW-185. Contribution number 4057 from the Division of Geological and Planetary Sciences, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, California 91125 U.S.A. | ||||||
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Series Name: | NATO ASI series. Series C, Mathematical and physical sciences | ||||||
Issue or Number: | 156 | ||||||
Record Number: | CaltechAUTHORS:20130730-152613347 | ||||||
Persistent URL: | https://resolver.caltech.edu/CaltechAUTHORS:20130730-152613347 | ||||||
Usage Policy: | No commercial reproduction, distribution, display or performance rights in this work are provided. | ||||||
ID Code: | 39662 | ||||||
Collection: | CaltechAUTHORS | ||||||
Deposited By: | Tony Diaz | ||||||
Deposited On: | 20 Sep 2013 23:40 | ||||||
Last Modified: | 09 Mar 2020 13:19 |
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