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Wave constraints for Titan's Jingpo Lacus and Kraken Mare from VIMS specular reflection lightcurves

Barnes, Jason W. and Soderblom, Jason M. and Brown, Robert H. and Soderblom, Laurence A. and Stephan, Katrin and Jaumann, Ralf and Le Mouélic, Stéphane and Rodriguez, Sebastien and Sotin, Christophe and Buratti, Bonnie J. and Baines, Kevin H. and Clark, Roger N. and Nicholson, Philip D. (2011) Wave constraints for Titan's Jingpo Lacus and Kraken Mare from VIMS specular reflection lightcurves. Icarus: International Journal of Solar System Studies, 211 (1), pp. 722-731. Elsevier. doi: 10.1016/j.icarus.2010.09.022. ISSN 0019-1035.

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Abstract

Stephan et al. (Stephan, K. et al. [2010]. Geophys. Res. Lett. 37, 7104â��+.) first saw the glint of sunlight specularly reflected off of Titanâ��s lakes. We develop a quantitative model for analyzing the photometric lightcurve generated during a flyby in which the specularly reflected light flux depends on the fraction of the solar specular footprint that is covered by liquid. We allow for surface waves that spread out the geographic specular intensity distribution. Applying the model to the VIMS T58 observations shows that the waves on Jingpo Lacus must have slopes of no greater than 0.15�°, two orders of magnitude flatter than waves on Earthâ��s oceans. Combining the model with theoretical estimates of the intensity of the specular reflection allows a tighter constraint on the waves: <0.05�°. Residual specular signal while the specular point lies on land implies that either the land is wetted, the wave slope distribution is non-Gaussian, or that 5% of the land off the southwest edge of Jingpo Lacus is covered in puddles. Another specular sequence off of Kraken Mare acquired during Cassiniâ��s T59 flyby shows rapid flux changes that the static model cannot reproduce. Points just 1 min apart vary in flux by more than a factor of two. The present dataset does not uniquely determine the mechanism causing these rapid changes. We suggest that changing wind conditions, kilometer-wavelength waves, or moving clouds could account for the variability. Future specular observations should be designed with a fast cadence, at least 6 points per minute, in order to differentiate between these hypotheses. Such new data will further constrain the nature of Titanâ��s lakes and their interactions with Titanâ��s atmosphere.

Item URL in elib:https://elib.dlr.de/68251/
Document Type:Article
Title:Wave constraints for Titan's Jingpo Lacus and Kraken Mare from VIMS specular reflection lightcurves
Authors:
AuthorsInstitution or Email of AuthorsAuthor's ORCID iDORCID Put Code
Barnes, Jason W.Department of Physics, University of Idaho, Moscow, ID 83844-0903, United StatesUNSPECIFIEDUNSPECIFIED
Soderblom, Jason M.Department of Planetary Sciences, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ 85721, United StatesUNSPECIFIEDUNSPECIFIED
Brown, Robert H.Department of Planetary Sciences, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ 85721, United StatesUNSPECIFIEDUNSPECIFIED
Soderblom, Laurence A.United States Geological Survey, Flagstaff, AZ 86001, United StatesUNSPECIFIEDUNSPECIFIED
Stephan, KatrinUNSPECIFIEDUNSPECIFIEDUNSPECIFIED
Jaumann, RalfUNSPECIFIEDUNSPECIFIEDUNSPECIFIED
Le Mouélic, StéphaneLaboratoire de Planétologie et Géodynamique, CNRS UMR6112, Université de Nantes, FranceUNSPECIFIEDUNSPECIFIED
Rodriguez, SebastienLaboratoire AIM, Centre d’ètude de Saclay, DAPNIA/Sap, Centre de l’Orme des M erisiers, bât. 709, 91191 Gif/Yvette Cedex, FranceUNSPECIFIEDUNSPECIFIED
Sotin, ChristopheJet Propulsion Laboratory, California Institute of Technology, 4800 Oak Grove Drive, Pasadena, CA 91109, United StatesUNSPECIFIEDUNSPECIFIED
Buratti, Bonnie J.Jet Propulsion Laboratory, California Institute of Technology, 4800 Oak Grove Drive, Pasadena, CA 91109, United StatesUNSPECIFIEDUNSPECIFIED
Baines, Kevin H.Jet Propulsion Laboratory, California Institute of Technology, 4800 Oak Grove Drive, Pasadena, CA 91109, United StatesUNSPECIFIEDUNSPECIFIED
Clark, Roger N.United States Geological Survey, Denver, CO 80225, United StatesUNSPECIFIEDUNSPECIFIED
Nicholson, Philip D.Department of Astronomy, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY 14853, United StatesUNSPECIFIEDUNSPECIFIED
Date:2011
Journal or Publication Title:Icarus: International Journal of Solar System Studies
Refereed publication:Yes
Open Access:No
Gold Open Access:No
In SCOPUS:Yes
In ISI Web of Science:Yes
Volume:211
DOI:10.1016/j.icarus.2010.09.022
Page Range:pp. 722-731
Publisher:Elsevier
ISSN:0019-1035
Status:Published
Keywords:Titan, photometry, Satellites, surfaces, Cassini
HGF - Research field:Aeronautics, Space and Transport (old)
HGF - Program:Space (old)
HGF - Program Themes:W EW - Erforschung des Weltraums
DLR - Research area:Space
DLR - Program:W EW - Erforschung des Weltraums
DLR - Research theme (Project):W - Vorhaben CASSINI (old)
Location: Berlin-Adlershof
Institutes and Institutions:Institute of Planetary Research > Planetary Geology
Deposited By: Pieth, Susanne
Deposited On:11 Jan 2011 11:29
Last Modified:10 Jan 2019 15:47

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