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Episodic outgassing as the origin of atmospheric methane on Titan

Author

Listed:
  • Gabriel Tobie

    (Université de Nantes
    University of Arizona)

  • Jonathan I. Lunine

    (University of Arizona
    Instituto di Fisica dello Spazio Interplanetario, INAF)

  • Christophe Sotin

    (Université de Nantes)

Abstract

Titan's stash of methane The 5% methane present in the nitrogen-rich atmosphere of Titan, Saturn's largest moon, would disappear in tens of millions of years in the absence of a methane source to replenish it. Until the arrival of the Cassini-Huygens mission at Saturn the favoured candidate source had been liquid hydrocarbon seas hundreds of metres thick, but no trace of such seas was found. Now numerical modelling suggests that episodic outgassing of methane stored as clathrate hydrates, associated with an ammonia-rich water ocean is the most likely source, which ties in with a Cassini fly-by image showing a possible cryovolcano.

Suggested Citation

  • Gabriel Tobie & Jonathan I. Lunine & Christophe Sotin, 2006. "Episodic outgassing as the origin of atmospheric methane on Titan," Nature, Nature, vol. 440(7080), pages 61-64, March.
    • Handle: RePEc:nat:nature:v:440:y:2006:i:7080:d:10.1038_nature04497
    DOI: 10.1038/nature04497
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