1. Home
  2. Science grid: The public understanding of science (2016)
  3. Coustenis

Titan’s organic chemistry: A planetary-scale laboratory to study primitive Earth

Athena Coustenis

Abstract


Saturn’s largest satellite, Titan, has been revealed by extended ground-based and space observations, and recently by the Cassini-Huygens mission. Titan’s atmosphere hosts a complex organic chemistry in the solar system starting with nitrogen and methane and leading to the formation of hydrocarbons and nitriles, including prebiotic molecules. The atmosphere also contains traces of oxygen compounds. This system is subject to seasonal variations and different physical, dynamic, and photochemical processes. Interactions between the atmosphere, the surface, and the interior also play an important role in the astrobiological potential of the satellite.
 

Keywords


Titan; natural satellites; atmosphere; organic chemistry

Full Text: PDF

DOI: https://doi.org/10.7203/metode.6.4999

References


Coll, P., Guillemin, J. C., Gazeau, M. C., & Raulin, F. (1999). Report and implications of the first observation of C4N2 in laboratory simulations of Titan’s atmosphere. Planetary and Space Science, 47, 1433–1440. doi: 10.1016/S0032-0633(99)00069-0

Coustenis, A., & Encrenaz, Th. (2013). Life beyond Earth: The search for habitable worlds in the universe. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.

Coustenis, A., Salama, A., Lellouch, E., Encrenaz, Th., Bjoraker, G. L., Samuelson, R. E., … Kessler, M. F. (1998). Evidence for water vapor in Titan’s atmosphere from ISO/SWS data. Astronomy and Astrophysics, 336(3), L85–L89.

Coustenis, A., Bampasidis, G., Achterberg, R. K., Lavvas, P., Jennings, D. E., Nixon, C. A., … Stamogiorgos, S. (2013). Evolution of the stratospheric temperature and chemical composition over one Titanian year. The Astrophysical Journal, 779, 177–185. doi: 10.1088/0004-637X/779/2/177

Coustenis, A., Jennings, D. E., Achterberg, R. K., Bampasidis, G., Lavvas, P., Nixon, C. A., … Flasar, F. M. (2015). Titan’s temporal evolution in stratospheric trace gases near the poles. Icarus. doi: 10.1016/j.icarus.2015.08.027

Flasar, F. M., Achterberg, R. K., Conrath, B. J., Gierasch, P. J., Kunde, V. G., Nixon, C. A., … Wishnow, E. H. (2005). Titan’s atmospheric temperatures, winds, and composition. Science, 308(5724), 975–978. doi: 10.1126/science.1111150

Fulchignoni, M., Ferri, F., Angrilli, F., Ball, A. J., Bar-Nun, A., Barucci, M. A., … ZRNAecki, J. C. (2005). In situ measurements of the physical characteristics of Titan’s environment. Nature, 438, 785–791. doi: 10.1038/nature04314

Iess, L., Jacobson, R. A., Ducci, M., Stevenson, D. J., Lunine, J. I., Armstrong, J. W., … Tortora, P. (2012). The tides of Titan. Science, 337(6093), 457–459. doi: 10.1126/science.1219631

Israël, G., Szopa, C., Raulin, F., Cabane, M., Niemann, H. B., Atreya, S. K., … Vidal-Madjar, C. (2005). Complex organic matter in Titan’s atmospheric aerosols from in situ pyrolysis and analysis. Nature, 438, 796–799. doi: 10.1038/nature04349

McKay, C. (2005, November 3). Titan: Greenhouse and anti-greenhouse. Astrobiology Magazine. Retrieved from http://www.astrobio.net/topic/solar-system/saturn/titan/titan-greenhouse-and-anti-greenhouse/

Niemann, H. B., Atreya, S. K., Bauer, S. J., Carignan, G. R., Demick, J. E., Frost, R. L., … Way, S. H. (2005). The abundances of constituents of Titan’s atmosphere from the GCMS instrument on the Huygens probe. Nature, 438, 779–784. doi: 10.1038/nature04122

Niemann, H. B., Atreya, S. K., Demick, J. E., Gautier, D., Haberman, J. A., Harpold, D. N., … Raulin, F. (2010). Composition of Titan’s lower atmosphere and simple surface volatiles as measured by the Cassini-Huygens probe gas chromatograph mass spectrometer experiment. Journal of Geophysical Research, 115(12), 2156-2202. doi: 10-1029/2010JE003659

Porco, C. C., Baker, E., Barbara, J., Beurle, K., Brahic, A., Burns, J. A., … West, R. (2005). Imaging of Titan from the Cassini spacecraft. Nature, 434, 159–168. doi: 10.1038/nature03436

Raulin, F. (2008). Planetary science: Organic lakes on Titan. Nature, 454, 587–589. doi: 10.1038/454587a

Tomasko, M. G., Archinal, B., Becker, T., Bézard, B., Bushroe, M., Combes, M., … West, R. (2005). Rain, winds and haze during the Huygens probe’s descent to Titan’s surface. Nature, 438, 765–778. doi: 10.1038/nature04126

Waite, J. H., Young, D. T., Cravens, T. E., Croates, A. J., Crary, F. J., Magee, B., & Westlake, J. (2007). The process of tholin formation in Titan’s upper atmosphere. Science, 316(5826), 870–875. doi: 10.1126/science.1139727


Refbacks

  • There are currently no refbacks.


Bookmark and Share