Characterization of Volatile Movement on Titan through High-Precision Gravitational Measurement -- A Proposal
- Paper number
IAC-08.E2.2.3
- Author
Ms. Laurren Kanner, United States
- Year
2008
- Abstract
Geodesy is a highly-respected science for use in Earth-based applications, but has been largely underrepresented on other bodies within the Solar System. The geoid characterizes the gravity field at the planet’s surface, and also notes variances due to inhomogeneity and density distribution of both the crust and interior. As with Earth-based applications, definition of a standard, high-resolution geoid for Titan provides opportunity to observe and characterize temporal changes in the gravitational field. Of particular interest are global and local mass re-distributions, caused by movement of volatiles within or across the surface of the planet. While these variations are predicted to occur on Titan in the form of methane, verification and characterization of this phenomenon has yet to be performed. Additionally, planetary interior structure is deducible by quantifying local changes in density/mass from either neighboring areas or from the mean global “sea level”. These static, local variations from the mean have important implications in understanding both crustal thickness and interior structure on an absolute, rather than a relative, scale. By quantifying both the static and the time-variable gravitational field of Titan, detailed maps of both the planet structure and volatile migrations can be generated for use in the future. This research gives deeper understanding to both the current state of the Titanian planetary interior/surface structure and to the behavior of volatiles on the planet. These topics are key to understanding the Titanian environment and characterizing regions important to future astrobiological study. This proposal asserts that in order to characterize the dynamics of volatiles on the surface of Titan, as opposed to the mean state, it is necessary to collect high-resolution gravitational field data in a continuous (or at least long-term) environment.
- Abstract document
- Manuscript document
IAC-08.E2.2.3.pdf (🔒 authorized access only).
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