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Seasonal Disappearance of Far-Infrared Haze in Titan's StratosphereA far-infrared emission band attributed to volatile or refractory haze in Titan's stratosphere has been decreasing in intensity since Cassini's arrival in 2004. The 220 cm(sup -1) feature, first seen by the Voyager Infrared Interferometer Spectrometer, has only been found in Titan's winter polar region. The emission peaks at about 140 km altitude near the winter stratospheric temperature minimum. Observations recorded over the period 2004-2012 by the Composite Infrared Spectrometer on Cassini show a decrease in the intensity of this feature by about a factor of four. Possible seasonal causes of this decline are an increase in photolytic destruction of source chemicals at high altitude, a lessening of condensation as solar heating increased, or a weakening of downwelling of vapors. As of early 2012, the 220 cm(sup -1) haze has not yet been detected in the south. The haze composition is unknown, but its decrease is similar to that of HC3N gas in Titan's polar stratosphere, pointing to a nitrile origin.
Document ID
20120017457
Acquisition Source
Goddard Space Flight Center
Document Type
Reprint (Version printed in journal)
Authors
Jennings, Donald E.
(NASA Goddard Space Flight Center Greenbelt, MD, United States)
Anderson, C. M.
(NASA Goddard Space Flight Center Greenbelt, MD, United States)
Flasar, F. M.
(NASA Goddard Space Flight Center Greenbelt, MD, United States)
Nixon, C. A.
(Maryland Univ. College Park, MD, United States)
Kunde, V. G.
(Maryland Univ. College Park, MD, United States)
Achterberg, R. K.
(Maryland Univ. College Park, MD, United States)
Cottini, V.
(NASA Goddard Space Flight Center Greenbelt, MD, United States)
deKok, R.
(Space Research Organization Netherlands Utrecht, Netherlands)
Coustenis, A.
(Observatoire de Paris-Meudon France)
Vinatier, S.
(Observatoire de Paris-Meudon France)
Calcutt, S. B.
(Oxford Univ. Oxford, United Kingdom)
Date Acquired
August 25, 2013
Publication Date
June 28, 2012
Publication Information
Publication: The Astrophysical Journal - Letters
Volume: 754
Issue: 1
Subject Category
Astrophysics
Report/Patent Number
GSFC.JA.6739.2012
Distribution Limits
Public
Copyright
Other

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