Photochemistry of hydrocarbons in Titan's atmosphere

Journal Article · Sun Apr 01 04:00:00 EST 1979 · Icarus; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1016/0019-1035(79)90091-5· OSTI ID:5671701

Bar-Nun, A; Podolak, M

The photochemistry of hydrocarbons in the atmosphere of Titan is studied by measuring the production rates of various hydrocarbons from the far UV photolysis of methane. A mixture of methane diluted 1000 times with argon was irradiated in the range of 1000 to 1450 A at temperatures of 200 and 300 K and the hydrocarbons produced were measured. It is found that ethylene and acetylene reach a temperature dependent steady state, while ethane and propane rise linearly with time. A comparison with observed abundances indicates that a cold surface acts as a sink for ethane and propane on Titan. Extrapolation of the measured column densities of ethylene to temperatures of 130 and 160 K indicates the top of the UV absorbing aerosol layer to be 4.8 or scale heights above the surface. Acetylene is calculated to have a concentration of 5.1 and 1.5 x 10 to the -4th cm am at 130 and 160 K, respectively.

• Research Organization: Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel
• OSTI ID: 5671701
• Journal Information: Icarus; (United States), Journal Name: Icarus; (United States) Vol. 38; ISSN ICRSA
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

640107* -- Astrophysics & Cosmology-- Planetary Phenomena
71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS
GENERAL PHYSICS
ABSORPTION SPECTRA
ACETYLENE
ALKANES
ALKENES
ALKYNES
ATMOSPHERES
ATMOSPHERIC CHEMISTRY
CHEMICAL COMPOSITION
CHEMICAL REACTIONS
CHEMISTRY
DECOMPOSITION
ELECTROMAGNETIC RADIATION
ETHANE
ETHYLENE
FAR ULTRAVIOLET RADIATION
HYDROCARBONS
METHANE
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
PHOTOCHEMICAL REACTIONS
PHOTOLYSIS
PLANETARY ATMOSPHERES
PLANETS
PROPANE
RADIATIONS
SATELLITES
SATURN PLANET
SPECTRA
ULTRAVIOLET RADIATION