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Direct measurement of winds on Titan
Author(s) -
Kostiuk Theodor,
Fast Kelly E.,
Livengood Timothy A.,
Hewagama Tilak,
Goldstein Jeffrey J.,
Espenak Fred,
Buhl David
Publication year - 2001
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 - 10.1029/2000gl012617
Subject(s) - titan (rocket family) , stratosphere , physics , atmosphere of titan , doppler effect , atmosphere (unit) , geology , meteorology , geophysics , atmospheric sciences , remote sensing , astrobiology , astronomy
We report the first direct measurement of wind velocity in the atmosphere of Titan, one of only two examples in our solar system of a slowly‐rotating body with a dense atmosphere and a prime target of the Cassini mission. Zonal wind velocity was determined from Doppler shift of ethane lines emitted from Titan's stratosphere (∼0.1–7 mbar) measured by infrared heterodyne spectroscopy near 12 µm (λ/Δ λ ≥ 10 6 ). Prograde zonal circulation, in the direction of global rotation, is established with 94% statistical confidence. Results provide information regarding Titan meteorology constraining dynamical theories for slowly‐rotating bodies, provide otherwise unobtainable data to optimize the Cassini Huygens Probe investigations, and demonstrate the capability for remotely measuring winds on a small, distant object.