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Triton - Stratospheric molecules and organic sedimentsContinuous-flow plasma discharge techniques show production rates of hydrocarbons and nitriles in N2 + CH4 atmospheres appropriate to the stratosphere of Titan, and indicate that a simple eddy diffusion model together with the observed electron flux quantitatively matches the Voyager IRIS observations for all the hydrocarbons, except for the simplest ones. Charged particle chemistry is very important in Triton's stratosphere. In the more CH4-rich case of Titan, many hydrocarbons and nitriles are produced in high yield. If N2 is present, the CH4 fraction is low, but hydrocarbons and nitriles are produced in fair yield, abundances of HCN and C2H2 in Triton's stratosphere exceed 10 to the 19th molecules/sq cm per sec, and NCCN, C3H4, and other species are predicted to be present. These molecules may be detected by IRIS if the stratosphere is as warm as expected. Both organic haze and condensed gases will provide a substantial UV and visible opacity in Triton's atmosphere.
Document ID
19890062622
Acquisition Source
Legacy CDMS
Document Type
Reprint (Version printed in journal)
Authors
Thompson, W. Reid
(Cornell Univ. Ithaca, NY, United States)
Singh, Sushil K.
(Cornell Univ. Ithaca, NY, United States)
Khare, B. N.
(Cornell Univ. Ithaca, NY, United States)
Sagan, Carl
(Cornell University Ithaca, NY, United States)
Date Acquired
August 14, 2013
Publication Date
August 1, 1989
Publication Information
Publication: Geophysical Research Letters
Volume: 16
ISSN: 0094-8276
Subject Category
Lunar And Planetary Exploration
Accession Number
89A49993
Funding Number(s)
CONTRACT_GRANT: NGR-33-010-101
CONTRACT_GRANT: NGR-33-010-082
Distribution Limits
Public
Copyright
Other

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