Note to users. If you're seeing this message, it means that your browser cannot find this page's style/presentation instructions -- or possibly that you are using a browser that does not support current Web standards. Find out more about why this message is appearing, and what you can do to make your experience of our site the best it can be.

Site Tools

  • AAAS
  • Subscribe
  • Feedback

Site Search

Search Advanced

Science 16 December 1983:
Vol. 222. no. 4629, pp. 1229 - 1230
DOI: 10.1126/science.222.4629.1229
Prev | Table of Contents | Next

Articles

Ethane Ocean on Titan

JONATHAN I. LUNINE 1, DAVID J. STEVENSON 1, and YUK L. YUNG 1

1 Division of Geological and Planetary Sciences, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena 91125

It is proposed that Saturn's satellite Titan is covered by an ocean one to several kilometers deep consisting mainly of ethane. If the ocean is in thermodynamic equilibrium with an atmosphere of 3 percent (mole fraction) methane, then its composition is roughly 70 percent ethane, 25 percent methane, and 5 percent nitrogen. Photochemical models predict that ethane is the dominant end product of methane photolysis so that the evolving ocean is both the source and sink for continuing photolysis. The coexisting atmosphere is compatible with Voyager data.

Submitted on June 30, 1983
Accepted on September 27, 1983


THIS ARTICLE HAS BEEN CITED BY OTHER ARTICLES:
Evolution of Titan and implications for its hydrocarbon cycle.
G Tobie, M Choukroun, O Grasset, S Le Mouelic, J.I Lunine, C Sotin, O Bourgeois, D Gautier, M Hirtzig, S Lebonnois, et al. (2009)
Phil Trans R Soc A 367, 617-631
   Abstract »    Full Text »    PDF »
Storms, polar deposits and the methane cycle in Titan's atmosphere.
C. A. Griffith (2009)
Phil Trans R Soc A 367, 713-728
   Abstract »    Full Text »    PDF »
Evidence for a polar ethane cloud on Titan..
C. A. Griffith, P. Penteado, P. Rannou, R. Brown, V. Boudon, K. H. Baines, R. Clark, P. Drossart, B. Buratti, P. Nicholson, et al. (2006)
Science 313, 1620-1622
   Abstract »    Full Text »    PDF »
Geographic Control of Titan's Mid-Latitude Clouds.
H. G. Roe, M. E. Brown, E. L. Schaller, A. H. Bouchez, and C. A. Trujillo (2005)
Science 310, 477-479
   Abstract »    Full Text »    PDF »
Radar Evidence for Liquid Surfaces on Titan.
D. B. Campbell, G. J. Black, L. M. Carter, and S. J. Ostro (2003)
Science 302, 431-434
   Abstract »    Full Text »    PDF »
Evidence for the Exposure of Water Ice on Titan's Surface.
C. A. Griffith, T. Owen, T. R. Geballe, J. Rayner, and P. Rannou (2003)
Science 300, 628-630
   Abstract »    Full Text »    PDF »
Detection of Daily Clouds on Titan.
C. A. Griffith, J. L. Hall, and T. R. Geballe (2000)
Science 290, 509-513
   Abstract »    Full Text »
The greenhouse and antigreenhouse effects on Titan.
C. McKay, J. Pollack, and R Courtin (1991)
Science 253, 1118-1121
   Abstract »    PDF »
Radar Reflectivity of Titan.
D. O. Muhleman, D. O. Muhleman, A. W. Grossman, B. J. Butler, and M. A. Slade (1990)
Science 248, 975-980
   Abstract »    PDF »
Origin and Evolution of Outer Solar System Atmospheres.
J. I. Lunine and J. I. LUNINE (1989)
Science 245, 141-147
   Abstract »    PDF »
Probing Titan's Surface.
V. R. Eshleman, V. R. ESHLEMAN, G. L. TYLER, R. A. SIMPSON, and E. A. MAROUF (1984)
Science 223, 772
   PDF »


To Advertise     Find Products

Science. ISSN 0036-8075 (print), 1095-9203 (online)