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Dynamics of an ice continent on Titan
Author(s) -
Perron J. Taylor,
de Pater Imke
Publication year - 2004
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 - 10.1029/2004gl019802
Subject(s) - titan (rocket family) , geology , water ice , mantle (geology) , geophysics , astrobiology , physics
If the large, high‐albedo surface feature on Titan's leading hemisphere is an elevated “continent” composed mainly of water ice, it will deform under its own weight. We present a model for the axisymmetric spreading of this hypothesized continent based on the similarity solution of Halfar [1983] and the approach of Nye [2000]. We find that the thickness of the model continent is dictated by the spreading time, whereas topographic relief is controlled primarily by isostatic effects. For a mantle density of 1000 kg m −3 , the relief of an isostatically supported continent on Titan is not likely to exceed ∼3–7 km.