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The greenhouse of Titan.Analysis of non-gray radiative equilibrium and gray convective equilibrium on Titan suggests that a massive molecular-hydrogen greenhouse effect may be responsible for the disagreement between the observed IR temperatures and the equilibrium temperature of an atmosphereless Titan. Calculations of convection indicate a probable minimum optical depth of 14 which corresponds to a molecular hydrogen shell of substantial thickness with total pressures of about 0.1 bar. It is suggested that there is an equilibrium between outgassing and blow-off on the one hand and accretion from the protons trapped in a hypothetical Saturnian magnetic field on the other, in the present atmosphere of Titan. It is believed that an outgassing equivalent to the volatilization of a few kilometers of subsurface ice is required to maintain the present blow-off rate without compensation for all geological time. The presence of an extensive hydrogen corona around Titan is postulated, with surface temperatures up to 200 K.
Document ID
19730059648
Acquisition Source
Legacy CDMS
Document Type
Reprint (Version printed in journal)
Authors
Sagan, C.
(Cornell University Ithaca, N.Y., United States)
Date Acquired
August 7, 2013
Publication Date
April 1, 1973
Publication Information
Publication: Icarus
Volume: 18
Subject Category
Space Sciences
Accession Number
73A44450
Funding Number(s)
CONTRACT_GRANT: NSF GA-23945
CONTRACT_GRANT: NGR-33-010-082
Distribution Limits
Public
Copyright
Other

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