Brossier, Jérémy F. and Rodriguez, S. and Cornet, Thomas and Lucas, A. and Radebaugh, Jani and Maltagliati, L. and Le Mouelic, S. and Solomonidou, A. and Coustenis, A. and Hirtzig, M. and Jaumann, R. and Stephan, Katrin and Sotin, C. (2018) Geological evolution of Titan's equatorial regions: Possible nature and origin of the dune material. Journal of Geophysical Research: Planets. Wiley. doi: 10.1029/2017JE005399. ISSN 2169-9097.
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Official URL: https://doi.org/10.1029/2017JE005399
Abstract
In thirteen years, infrared observations from the Visual and Infrared Mapping Spectrometer (VIMS) onboard Cassini provided significant hints about the spectral and geological diversity of Titan's surface. The analysis of the infrared signature of spectral units enables constraining the surface composition, which is crucial for understanding possible interactions between Titan’s interior, surface and atmosphere. Here, we investigate a selection of areas in the equatorial regions, imaged by Cassini’s instruments, which exhibit an apparent transition from the VIMS IR-bright to the IR-blue and IR-brown units (from false-color composites using red: 1.57/1.27 µm, green: 2.01/1.27 µm, and blue: 1.27/1.08 µm). By applying an updated radiative transfer model, we extract the surface albedo of IR-units identified in these regions. Then, we compare them with synthetic mixtures of two expected components on Titan’s surface, namely water ice and laboratory tholins. This allows us to reconnect the derived composition and grain size information to the geomorphology observed from RADAR/SAR images. We interpret IR-bright units as hills and plains coated by organic material and incised by fluvial networks. Erosion products are transported downstream to areas where IR-blue units are seen near the IR-bright units. These units, enriched in water ice, are most likely outwash plains hosting debris from fluvial erosion. Farther away from the IR-bright units, the IR-brown units are dominantly made of organics with varied grain sizes, ranging from dust- to sand-sized particles that form the dune fields. The transition areas therefore exhibit trends in water ice content and grain size supported by geomorphological observations.
Item URL in elib: | https://elib.dlr.de/120190/ | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Document Type: | Article | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Title: | Geological evolution of Titan's equatorial regions: Possible nature and origin of the dune material | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Authors: |
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Date: | April 2018 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Journal or Publication Title: | Journal of Geophysical Research: Planets | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Refereed publication: | Yes | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Open Access: | Yes | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Gold Open Access: | No | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
In SCOPUS: | Yes | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
In ISI Web of Science: | Yes | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
DOI: | 10.1029/2017JE005399 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Publisher: | Wiley | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
ISSN: | 2169-9097 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Status: | Published | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Keywords: | Titan geology, radiative transfer code, surface composition | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
HGF - Research field: | Aeronautics, Space and Transport | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
HGF - Program: | Space | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
HGF - Program Themes: | Space Exploration | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
DLR - Research area: | Raumfahrt | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
DLR - Program: | R EW - Space Exploration | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
DLR - Research theme (Project): | R - Exploration of the Solar System | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Location: | Berlin-Adlershof | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Institutes and Institutions: | Institute of Planetary Research > Planetary Geology | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Deposited By: | Brossier, Jérémy F. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Deposited On: | 10 Sep 2018 15:16 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Last Modified: | 02 Nov 2023 10:24 |
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