The formation and evolution of Titan’s winter polar vortex

Nicholas A. Teanby; Bruno Bézard; Sandrine Vinatier; Melody Sylvestre; Conor A. Nixon; Patrick G. J. Irwin; Remco J. de Kok; Simon B. Calcutt; F. Michael Flasar

doi:10.1038/s41467-017-01839-z

Nature Communications (Nov 2017)

The formation and evolution of Titan’s winter polar vortex

Nicholas A. Teanby,
Bruno Bézard,
Sandrine Vinatier,
Melody Sylvestre,
Conor A. Nixon,
Patrick G. J. Irwin,
Remco J. de Kok,
Simon B. Calcutt,
F. Michael Flasar

Affiliations

Nicholas A. Teanby: School of Earth Sciences, University of Bristol
Bruno Bézard: LESIA-Observatoire de Paris, PSL Research University, CNRS, Sorbonne Universités, UPMC Univ. Paris 06, Univ. Paris-Diderot
Sandrine Vinatier: LESIA-Observatoire de Paris, PSL Research University, CNRS, Sorbonne Universités, UPMC Univ. Paris 06, Univ. Paris-Diderot
Melody Sylvestre: School of Earth Sciences, University of Bristol
Conor A. Nixon: Planetary Systems Laboratory, NASA Goddard Space Flight Center
Patrick G. J. Irwin: Atmospheric, Oceanic and Planetary Physics, Department of Physics, University of Oxford, Clarendon Laboratory
Remco J. de Kok: Department of Physical Geography, Universiteit Utrecht
Simon B. Calcutt: Atmospheric, Oceanic and Planetary Physics, Department of Physics, University of Oxford, Clarendon Laboratory
F. Michael Flasar: Planetary Systems Laboratory, NASA Goddard Space Flight Center

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-017-01839-z
Journal volume & issue: Vol. 8, no. 1
pp. 1 – 13

Abstract

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The polar hot-spot appeared in Titan after equinox in 2010 suddenly cooled in early 2012, which wasn’t predicted by models. Here the authors use observations to show that the increase in trace gases during the hot-spot resulted in radiative cooling feedback.

Published in Nature Communications

ISSN: 2041-1723 (Online)
Publisher: Nature Portfolio
Country of publisher: United Kingdom
LCC subjects: Science
Website: https://www.nature.com/ncomms/

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