The thermal structure of triton's atmosphere: Pre-voyager models

Journal Article · Tue Aug 01 04:00:00 EDT 1989 · Geophysical Research Letters (American Geophysical Union); (USA)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1029/GL016i008p00973· OSTI ID:5946794

McKay, C P; Pollack, J B; Zent, A P; Cruikshank, D P ^[1]; Courtin, R

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1. NASA Ames Research Center, IA (USA)

The authors predict the existence of a relatively thick (several tens of mbar) N{sub 2}-CH{sub 4} atmosphere on Triton. As on Titan, they find that the organic haze produced by chemical reactions is the most significant factor affecting solar energy deposition. The production of haze material ({approximately}10{sup {minus}15} g cm{sup {minus}2} s{sup {minus}1}) is obtained by scaling from the Titan value. Collision induced absorption, primarily N{sub 2}-N{sub 2}, is the dominant source of thermal infrared opacity. The troposphere characterized by moist convection and the temperature lapse rate is determined by the saturation vapor relationship of N{sub 2} (about 0.25 K km{sup {minus}1}). Given Triton's present orbital parameters, one polar cap is receiving sunlight while the other cap is in darkness. Following Trafton (1984) they assume the sublimating pole extends poleward of 35{degree} and treat volatile transport as an isobaric process. For nominal values of the surface albedo and emissivity of 0.3 and 0.4, respectively, they find the surface temperature is 59 K (T {approx equal} 130 K) similar to that on Titan due to absorption by the haze. The total opacity of the organic haze (or haze plus N{sub 2} cloud) is {<=} 1.

• OSTI ID: 5946794
• Journal Information: Geophysical Research Letters (American Geophysical Union); (USA), Journal Name: Geophysical Research Letters (American Geophysical Union); (USA) Vol. 16:8; ISSN 0094-8276; ISSN GPRLA
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

640107* -- Astrophysics &amp; Cosmology-- Planetary Phenomena
71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS
GENERAL PHYSICS
ALKANES
ATMOSPHERES
ATMOSPHERIC CHEMISTRY
CHEMICAL COMPOSITION
CHEMICAL REACTIONS
CHEMISTRY
CONVECTION
ELEMENTS
ENERGY TRANSFER
EVAPORATION
HEAT TRANSFER
HYDROCARBONS
MASS TRANSFER
MATHEMATICAL MODELS
MATTER
METHANE
NEPTUNE PLANET
NITROGEN
NONMETALS
OPACITY
OPTICAL PROPERTIES
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
PHASE TRANSFORMATIONS
PHYSICAL PROPERTIES
PLANETS
PRESSURE EFFECTS
SATELLITE ATMOSPHERES
SUBLIMATION
TEMPERATURE DISTRIBUTION
VOLATILE MATTER