Evolution of Titan and implications for its hydrocarbon cycle

Research areas:

• Environnement, Paléo-Environnement et Bio-Indicateurs (2011 - 2016)

Year:

2009

Authors:

• Gabriel Tobie
• M. CHOUKROUN
• Olivier Grasset
• Stéphane Le Mouélic
• J. I. Lunine
• Christophe Sotin
• Olivier Bourgeois
• D. Gautier
• M. Hirtzig
• S. Lebonnois
• L. Le Corre

Journal:

PHILOSOPHICAL TRANSACTIONS OF THE ROYAL SOCIETY A-MATHEMATICAL PHYSICAL AND ENGINEERING SCIENCES

Volume:

367

Number:

1889

Pages:

617-631

Month:

FEB 28

ISSN:

1364-503X

BibTex:

@article{WOS:000262595300003, author = "Gabriel Tobie and M. CHOUKROUN and Olivier Grasset and St{\'e}phane Le Mou{\'e}lic and J. I. Lunine and Christophe Sotin and Olivier Bourgeois and D. Gautier and M. Hirtzig and S. Lebonnois and L. Le Corre", abstract = "Measurements of the carbon and nitrogen isotopic ratios as well as the detection of Ar-40 and Ar-36 by the gas chromatograph mass spectrometer (GCMS) instrument on board the Huygens probe have provided key constraints on the origin and evolution of Titan{\&}#039;s atmosphere, and indirectly on the evolution of its interior. Those data combined with models of Titan{\&}#039;s interior can be used to determine the story of volatile outgassing since Titan{\&}#039;s formation. In the absence of an internal source, methane, which is irreversibly photodissociated in Titan{\&}#039;s stratosphere, should be removed entirely from the atmosphere in a time-span of a few tens of millions of years. The episodic destabilization of methane clathrate reservoir stored within Titan{\&}#039;s crust and subsequent methane outgassing could explain the present atmospheric abundance of methane, as well as the presence of argon in the atmosphere. The idea that methane is released from the interior through eruptive processes is also supported by the observations of several cryovolcanic-like features on Titan{\&}#039;s surface by the mapping spectrometer (VIMS) and the radar on board Cassini. Thermal instabilities within the icy crust, possibly favoured by the presence of ammonia, may explain the observed features and provide the conditions for eruption of methane and other volatiles. Episodic resurfacing events associated with thermal and compositional instabilities in the icy crust can have major consequences on the hydrocarbon budget on Titan{\&}#039;s surface and atmosphere.", doi = "10.1098/rsta.2008.0246", extra = "PICL", issn = "1364-503X", journal = "PHILOSOPHICAL TRANSACTIONS OF THE ROYAL SOCIETY A-MATHEMATICAL PHYSICAL AND ENGINEERING SCIENCES", month = "FEB 28", number = "1889", pages = "617-631", title = "{E}volution of {T}itan and implications for its hydrocarbon cycle", volume = "367", year = "2009", }

Abstract:

Measurements of the carbon and nitrogen isotopic ratios as well as the
detection of Ar-40 and Ar-36 by the gas chromatograph mass spectrometer
(GCMS) instrument on board the Huygens probe have provided key
constraints on the origin and evolution of Titan's atmosphere, and
indirectly on the evolution of its interior. Those data combined with
models of Titan's interior can be used to determine the story of
volatile outgassing since Titan's formation. In the absence of an
internal source, methane, which is irreversibly photodissociated in
Titan's stratosphere, should be removed entirely from the atmosphere in
a time-span of a few tens of millions of years. The episodic
destabilization of methane clathrate reservoir stored within Titan's
crust and subsequent methane outgassing could explain the present
atmospheric abundance of methane, as well as the presence of argon in
the atmosphere. The idea that methane is released from the interior
through eruptive processes is also supported by the observations of
several cryovolcanic-like features on Titan's surface by the mapping
spectrometer (VIMS) and the radar on board Cassini. Thermal
instabilities within the icy crust, possibly favoured by the presence of
ammonia, may explain the observed features and provide the conditions
for eruption of methane and other volatiles. Episodic resurfacing events
associated with thermal and compositional instabilities in the icy crust
can have major consequences on the hydrocarbon budget on Titan's surface
and atmosphere.