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AGU: Geophysical Research Letters

 

Index Terms

  • Planetology: Fluid Planets: Atmospheres—structure and dynamics
  • Planetology: Solar System Objects: Comparative planetology
  • Planetology: Solar System Objects: Saturnian satellites
  • Planetology: Solar System Objects: Instruments and techniques

Abstract

GEOPHYSICAL RESEARCH LETTERS, VOL. 28, NO. 12, PP. 2361-2364, 2001
doi:10.1029/2000GL012617

Direct measurement of winds on Titan

Theodor Kostiuk

NASA Goddard Space Flight Center, Greenbelt, Maryland

Kelly E. Fast

University of Maryland, College Park, Maryland

Timothy A. Livengood

University of Maryland, College Park, Maryland

Tilak Hewagama

University of Maryland, College Park, Maryland

Jeffrey J. Goldstein

Challenger Center for Space Science Education, Alexandria, Virginia

Fred Espenak

NASA Goddard Space Flight Center, Greenbelt, Maryland

David Buhl

NASA Goddard Space Flight Center, Greenbelt, Maryland

We report the first direct measurement of wind velocity in the atmosphere of Titan, one of only two examples in our solar system of a slowly‐rotating body with a dense atmosphere and a prime target of the Cassini mission. Zonal wind velocity was determined from Doppler shift of ethane lines emitted from Titan's stratosphere (∼0.1–7 mbar) measured by infrared heterodyne spectroscopy near 12 µm (λ/Δ λ ≥ 106). Prograde zonal circulation, in the direction of global rotation, is established with 94% statistical confidence. Results provide information regarding Titan meteorology constraining dynamical theories for slowly‐rotating bodies, provide otherwise unobtainable data to optimize the Cassini Huygens Probe investigations, and demonstrate the capability for remotely measuring winds on a small, distant object.

Received 9 November 2000; accepted 24 March 2001; .

Citation: Kostiuk, T., K. E. Fast, T. A. Livengood, T. Hewagama, J. J. Goldstein, F. Espenak, and D. Buhl (2001), Direct measurement of winds on Titan, Geophys. Res. Lett., 28(12), 2361–2364, doi:10.1029/2000GL012617.

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