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Article Dans Une Revue Icarus Année : 2009

Titan at 3 microns: Newly identified spectral features and an improved analysis of haze opacity

Résumé

We have reanalyzed the high-resolution spectrum of Titan between 2.87 and 3.12 mum observed with NIRSPEC/Keck II on 2001 Nov. 21 in southern summer, using updated CH 3D and C 2H 6 line-by-line models. From new synthetic spectra, we identify all but a few of the previously unidentified significant absorption spectral features in this wavelength range as due to these two species, both of which had been previously detected by Voyager and ground-based observations at other wavelengths. We also derive opacities and reflectivities of haze particles as functions of altitude for the 2.87-2.92 mum wavelength range, where Titan's atmosphere is partially transparent down to the surface. The extinction per unit altitude is observed to increase from 100 km (˜8 mbar) toward lower altitude. The derived total optical depth is approximately 1.1 for the 2.87-2.92 mum range. At wavelengths increasing beyond 2.92 mum the haze layers become much more optically thick, and the surface is rapidly hidden from view. These conclusions apply to equatorial and southern-temperate regions on Titan, excluding polar regions. We also find it unlikely that there is a large enhancement of the tropospheric CH 4 mole fraction over the value reported from analysis of the Huygens/GCMS observations.

Dates et versions

hal-03785422 , version 1 (23-09-2022)

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Citer

Haingja Seo, Sang Joon Kim, Joo Hyeon Kim, Thomas R. Geballe, Régis Courtin, et al.. Titan at 3 microns: Newly identified spectral features and an improved analysis of haze opacity. Icarus, 2009, 199, pp.449-457. ⟨10.1016/j.icarus.2008.09.017⟩. ⟨hal-03785422⟩
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