The thermal structure of Titan's atmosphere

Journal Article · Sat Jul 01 04:00:00 EDT 1989 · Icarus; (USA)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1016/0019-1035(89)90160-7· OSTI ID:5594400

Mckay, C P; Pollack, J B; Courtin, R ^[1]

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1. NASA, Ames Research Center, Moffett Field, CA (USA)

The present radiative-convective model of the Titan atmosphere thermal structure obtains the solar and IR radiation in a series of spectral intervals with vertical resolution. Haze properties have been determined with a microphysics model encompassing a minimum of free parameters. It is determined that gas and haze opacity alone, using temperatures established by Voyager observations, yields a model that is within a few percent of the radiative convective balance throughout the Titan atmosphere. Model calculations of the surface temperature are generally colder than the observed value by 5-10 K; better agreement is obtained through adjustment of the model parameters. Sunlight absorption by stratospheric haze and pressure-induced gas opacity in the IR are the most important thermal structure-controlling factors. 53 refs.

• OSTI ID: 5594400
• Journal Information: Icarus; (USA), Journal Name: Icarus; (USA) Vol. 80; ISSN ICRSA; ISSN 0019-1035
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

640107* -- Astrophysics & Cosmology-- Planetary Phenomena
71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS
GENERAL PHYSICS
ALKANES
ATMOSPHERES
CONVECTION
ELECTROMAGNETIC RADIATION
ENERGY TRANSFER
HEAT TRANSFER
HYDROCARBONS
INFRARED RADIATION
MASS TRANSFER
MATHEMATICAL MODELS
METHANE
MORPHOLOGY
OPACITY
OPTICAL PROPERTIES
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
PHYSICAL PROPERTIES
PLANETS
RADIATION TRANSPORT
RADIATIONS
SATELLITE ATMOSPHERES
SATURN PLANET
SOLAR RADIATION
SPACE VEHICLES
STELLAR RADIATION
VEHICLES
VOYAGER SPACE PROBES