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Title: Titan's 2 micron Surface Albedo and Haze Optical Depth in 1996-2004

Abstract

We observed Titan in 1996-2004 with high-resolution 2 {micro}m speckle and adaptive optics imaging at the W.M. Keck Observatory. By observing in a 2 {micro}m broadband filter we obtain images that have contributions from both Titan's surface and atmosphere. We have modeled Titan's atmosphere using a plane-parallel radiative transfer code that has been corrected to agree with 3-D Monte Carlo predictions. We find that Titan's surface albedo ranges from {le} 0:02 in the darkest equatorial region of the trailing hemisphere to {approx_equal} 0:1 in the brightest areas of the leading hemisphere. Over the past quarter of a Saturnian year haze optical depth in Titan's Southern hemisphere has decreased substantially from a value of 0.48 in 1996 down to 0.18 in 2004, while the northern haze has been increasing over the past few years. As a result of these changes, in 2004 the North/South haze asymmetry at K' band has disappeared.

Authors:
; ; ; ; ; ;
Publication Date:
Research Org.:
Lawrence Livermore National Lab. (LLNL), Livermore, CA (United States)
Sponsoring Org.:
USDOE
OSTI Identifier:
15014232
Report Number(s):
UCRL-JRNL-203968
Journal ID: ISSN 0094-8276; GPRLAJ; TRN: US200803%%611
DOE Contract Number:  
W-7405-ENG-48
Resource Type:
Journal Article
Journal Name:
Geophysical Research Letters
Additional Journal Information:
Journal Volume: 31; Journal ID: ISSN 0094-8276
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English
Subject:
99 GENERAL AND MISCELLANEOUS//MATHEMATICS, COMPUTING, AND INFORMATION SCIENCE; ALBEDO; ASYMMETRY; OPTICS; ASTRONOMY

Citation Formats

Gibbard, S, de Pater, I, Macintosh, B, Roe, H, Max, C, Young, E, and McKay, C. Titan's 2 micron Surface Albedo and Haze Optical Depth in 1996-2004. United States: N. p., 2004. Web.
Gibbard, S, de Pater, I, Macintosh, B, Roe, H, Max, C, Young, E, & McKay, C. Titan's 2 micron Surface Albedo and Haze Optical Depth in 1996-2004. United States.
Gibbard, S, de Pater, I, Macintosh, B, Roe, H, Max, C, Young, E, and McKay, C. 2004. "Titan's 2 micron Surface Albedo and Haze Optical Depth in 1996-2004". United States. https://www.osti.gov/servlets/purl/15014232.
@article{osti_15014232,
title = {Titan's 2 micron Surface Albedo and Haze Optical Depth in 1996-2004},
author = {Gibbard, S and de Pater, I and Macintosh, B and Roe, H and Max, C and Young, E and McKay, C},
abstractNote = {We observed Titan in 1996-2004 with high-resolution 2 {micro}m speckle and adaptive optics imaging at the W.M. Keck Observatory. By observing in a 2 {micro}m broadband filter we obtain images that have contributions from both Titan's surface and atmosphere. We have modeled Titan's atmosphere using a plane-parallel radiative transfer code that has been corrected to agree with 3-D Monte Carlo predictions. We find that Titan's surface albedo ranges from {le} 0:02 in the darkest equatorial region of the trailing hemisphere to {approx_equal} 0:1 in the brightest areas of the leading hemisphere. Over the past quarter of a Saturnian year haze optical depth in Titan's Southern hemisphere has decreased substantially from a value of 0.48 in 1996 down to 0.18 in 2004, while the northern haze has been increasing over the past few years. As a result of these changes, in 2004 the North/South haze asymmetry at K' band has disappeared.},
doi = {},
url = {https://www.osti.gov/biblio/15014232}, journal = {Geophysical Research Letters},
issn = {0094-8276},
number = ,
volume = 31,
place = {United States},
year = {Tue May 04 00:00:00 EDT 2004},
month = {Tue May 04 00:00:00 EDT 2004}
}