The seasonal variability of Titan's global wind field
ORAL
Abstract
Spatially resolved observations of the gas acetonitrile (CH3CN) on Titan lends insight into the dynamics, chemistry and seasonal variation of its stratosphere. In particular, the distribution of the molecule as a function of altitude and latitude are strongly influenced by chemistry and climate, while detailed spectral measurements of the central frequencies of rotational lines reveal zonal wind speed via the Doppler effect. Longer-term seasonal differences in wind speed and distribution remain mostly unconstrained. In this study, interferometric observations of Titan obtained with the extended SMA in 2009 and 2010 were analyzed in order to extend the existing time series of CH3CN observations on Titan. Initial data analysis found prograde zonal winds of similar magnitude in both years consistent with previous results. New wind speed measurements are found and compared to previous work. These results can be used to improve vertical abundance profiles of this molecule and general atmospheric circulation models of Titan.
*SLL and CAN received funding from NASA Solar System Observations Program and NASA Astrobiology Institute. The development of the eSMA was facilitated by grant 614.061.416 from NWO and NSF grant AST-0540882 to CSO along with the dedicated work of observatory staff from the JCMT, CSO, and the SMA. The SMA is a joint project between the SAO and the ASIAA and is funded by the Smithsonian Institution and the Academia Sinica.
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