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Topographic Constraints on the Evolution and Connectivity of Titan's Lacustrine Basins
Author(s) -
Hayes A. G.,
Birch S. P. D.,
Dietrich W. E.,
Howard A. D.,
Kirk R. L.,
Poggiali V.,
Mastrogiuseppe M.,
Michaelides R. J.,
Corlies P. M.,
Moore J. M.,
Malaska M. J.,
Mitchell K. L.,
Lorenz R. D.,
Wood C. A.
Publication year - 2017
Publication title -
geophysical research letters
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.007
H-Index - 273
eISSN - 1944-8007
pISSN - 0094-8276
DOI - 10.1002/2017gl075468
Subject(s) - geology , titan (rocket family) , geomorphology , structural basin , fault scarp , terrain , landform , paleontology , tectonics , cartography , astrobiology , geography , physics
The topography provided by altimetry, synthetic aperture radar‐topography, and stereo radargrammetry has opened new doors for Titan research by allowing for quantitative analysis of morphologic form. Using altimetry measurements, we show that Titan's Maria are consistent with an equipotential surface but that several filled lakes are found to be hundreds of meters above this sea level, suggesting that they exist in isolated or perched basins. Within a given drainage basin, empty lake floors are typically higher than the liquid elevation of nearby lakes/seas, suggesting local subsurface connectivity. The majority of Titan's lakes reside in topographically closed, sharp‐edged depressions whose planform curvature suggests lateral expansion through uniform scarp retreat. Many, but not all, empty lake basins exhibit flat floors and hectometer‐scale raised rims that present a challenge to formation models. We conclude that dissolution erosion can best match the observed constraints but that challenges remain in the interpretation of formation processes and materials.