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Detailed Reference Information |
Smith, G.R., Strobel, D.F., Broadfoot, A.L., Sandel, B.R., Shemansky, D.E. and Holberg, J.B. (1982). Titan’s upper atmosphere: composition and temperature from the EUV solar occultation results. Journal of Geophysical Research 87. doi: 10.1029/JA087iA03p01351. issn: 0148-0227. |
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The temperature and composition of the upper atmosphere of Titan have been inferred by observing an occultation of the sun by Titan, using the Voyager 1 ultraviolet spectrometer. The temperature is 176¿20 K near the evening terminator and 196¿20 K near the morning terminator. The major constituent is N2 with a density of 2.7¿0.2¿108 cm-3 at 3840 km. The mixing ratio of CH4 is 8¿3% at a radial distance of 3700 km near the evening terminator where [CH4>?1.2¿108 cm-3. On the morning terminator the [CH4>?1.2¿108 cm-3 level is about 20 km lower in the atmosphere. The acetylene mixing ratio above 3400 km is measured at the 1 to 2% level. Below 3300 km it decreases to between 0.1 and 0.3%. A layer of absorbing molecules, possible polymers, is present at both morning and evening terminators. Near the evening terminator it is located about 100 km lower in the atmosphere. A simple photochemical model suggests that the homopause is located at 3500¿70 km with an eddy diffusion coefficient of 1+2-0.7¿108 cm2 s-1, which decreases to ~103 cm2 s-1 in the lower stratosphere as [N2>-2/3. |
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Publisher
American Geophysical Union 2000 Florida Avenue N.W. Washington, D.C. 20009-1277 USA 1-202-462-6900 1-202-328-0566 service@agu.org |
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