Updated Radiative Transfer Model for Titan in the Near-infrared Wavelength Range: Validation against Huygens Atmospheric and Surface Measurements and Application to the Cassini/VIMS Observations of the Dragonfly Landing Area
We present an analysis of Titan data acquired by the Cassini Visual and Infrared Mapping Spectrometer (VIMS) at the landing site of the Dragonfly mission, using a new version of our radiative transfer model for Titan, with significant updates for the spectroscopic parameters of atmospheric gases and...
| Main Authors: | , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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IOP Publishing
2023-01-01
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| Series: | The Planetary Science Journal |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.3847/PSJ/acbd37 |
| _version_ | 1797327474278793216 |
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| author | M. Es-sayeh S. Rodriguez M. Coutelier P. Rannou B. Bézard L. Maltagliati T. Cornet B. Grieger E. Karkoschka S. Le Mouélic A. Le Gall C. Neish S. MacKenzie A. Solomonidou C. Sotin A. Coustenis |
| author_facet | M. Es-sayeh S. Rodriguez M. Coutelier P. Rannou B. Bézard L. Maltagliati T. Cornet B. Grieger E. Karkoschka S. Le Mouélic A. Le Gall C. Neish S. MacKenzie A. Solomonidou C. Sotin A. Coustenis |
| author_sort | M. Es-sayeh |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | We present an analysis of Titan data acquired by the Cassini Visual and Infrared Mapping Spectrometer (VIMS) at the landing site of the Dragonfly mission, using a new version of our radiative transfer model for Titan, with significant updates for the spectroscopic parameters of atmospheric gases and photochemical aerosols. Our updated radiative transfer model is validated against the in situ spectroscopic measurements of the Huygens probe during its descent and once landed. We confirm that aerosols with a fractal dimension of 2.3–2.4 provide the best fit to the observations. We apply our radiative transfer model to four VIMS data cubes over the Selk crater region including the Dragonfly landing and exploration areas, further validating our model by producing consistent aerosol population and surface albedo maps. These infrared albedo maps, further corrected from the photometry, enable us to study the Selk crater region in terms of surface composition, landscape formation, and evolution. Our results suggest that the Selk crater is in an intermediate state of degradation and that the mountainous terrains of the area (including the crater rim and ejecta) are likely to be dominated by fine grains of tholin-like sediment. This organic sediment would be transported to the lowlands (crater floor and surrounding plains), possibly with water ice particles, by rivers, and further deposited and processed to form the sand particles that feed the neighboring dune fields. These results provide information for the operational and scientific preparation of the Dragonfly mission, paving the way for future exploration of Titan’s surface composition and geology. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-08T06:38:53Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-4b1f068376ee44098b117b659fbe2c81 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2632-3338 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-08T06:38:53Z |
| publishDate | 2023-01-01 |
| publisher | IOP Publishing |
| record_format | Article |
| series | The Planetary Science Journal |
| spelling | doaj.art-4b1f068376ee44098b117b659fbe2c812024-02-03T09:19:01ZengIOP PublishingThe Planetary Science Journal2632-33382023-01-01434410.3847/PSJ/acbd37Updated Radiative Transfer Model for Titan in the Near-infrared Wavelength Range: Validation against Huygens Atmospheric and Surface Measurements and Application to the Cassini/VIMS Observations of the Dragonfly Landing AreaM. Es-sayeh0https://orcid.org/0000-0002-0643-4323S. Rodriguez1https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1219-0641M. Coutelier2https://orcid.org/0000-0002-0776-2732P. Rannou3https://orcid.org/0000-0003-0836-723XB. Bézard4https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5433-5661L. Maltagliati5T. Cornet6https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5971-0056B. Grieger7E. Karkoschka8https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4165-0064S. Le Mouélic9https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5260-1367A. Le Gall10https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9023-4868C. Neish11https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3254-8348S. MacKenzie12https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1658-9687A. Solomonidou13C. Sotin14https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3947-1072A. Coustenis15https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3414-3491Université Paris Cité , Institut de physique du globe de Paris (IPGP), CNRS, Paris, France ; essayeh@ipgp.frUniversité Paris Cité , Institut de physique du globe de Paris (IPGP), CNRS, Paris, France ; essayeh@ipgp.frLATMOS/IPSL, UVSQ Université Paris-Saclay, Sorbonne Université , CNRS, Guyancourt, FranceGroupe de Spectrométrie Moléculaire et Atmosphérique, UMR CNRS 7331, Université de Reims Champagne-Ardenne , Reims, FranceLESIA, Observatoire de Paris, Université PSL, CNRS, Sorbonne Université , Université Paris Cité, 5 place Jules Janssen, F-92195, Meudon, FranceNature Astronomy, Springer Nature, 4 Crinan Street, London N1 9XW, UKAurora Technology B.V. for ESA—European Space Agency, European Space Astronomy Centre (ESAC) , Camino Bajo del Castillo s/n, Urb. Villafranca del Castillo, E-28692 Villanueva de la Cañada, Madrid, SpainAurora Technology B.V. for ESA—European Space Agency, European Space Astronomy Centre (ESAC) , Camino Bajo del Castillo s/n, Urb. Villafranca del Castillo, E-28692 Villanueva de la Cañada, Madrid, SpainLunar and Planetary Laboratory , 1629 E University Boulevard, Tucson, AZ 85721-0092, USALaboratoire de Planétologie et Géosciences, CNRS UMR 6112, Nantes Université , Université d’Angers, Université du Mans, Nantes, FranceLaboratoire Atmosphères, Milieux, Observations Spatiales (LATMOS), UVSQ/CNRS/Paris VI, UMR 8190, F-78280 Guyancourt, Institut Universitaire de France (IUF) , Paris, FranceDepartment of Earth Sciences, The University of Western Ontario , London, ON N6A 5B7, CanadaJohns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory , 11100 Johns Hopkins Road, Laurel, MD 20723, USAHellenic Space Center , Athens, GreeceLaboratoire de Planétologie et Géosciences, CNRS UMR 6112, Nantes Université , Université d’Angers, Université du Mans, Nantes, FranceLESIA, Observatoire de Paris, Université PSL, CNRS, Sorbonne Université , Université Paris Cité, 5 place Jules Janssen, F-92195, Meudon, FranceWe present an analysis of Titan data acquired by the Cassini Visual and Infrared Mapping Spectrometer (VIMS) at the landing site of the Dragonfly mission, using a new version of our radiative transfer model for Titan, with significant updates for the spectroscopic parameters of atmospheric gases and photochemical aerosols. Our updated radiative transfer model is validated against the in situ spectroscopic measurements of the Huygens probe during its descent and once landed. We confirm that aerosols with a fractal dimension of 2.3–2.4 provide the best fit to the observations. We apply our radiative transfer model to four VIMS data cubes over the Selk crater region including the Dragonfly landing and exploration areas, further validating our model by producing consistent aerosol population and surface albedo maps. These infrared albedo maps, further corrected from the photometry, enable us to study the Selk crater region in terms of surface composition, landscape formation, and evolution. Our results suggest that the Selk crater is in an intermediate state of degradation and that the mountainous terrains of the area (including the crater rim and ejecta) are likely to be dominated by fine grains of tholin-like sediment. This organic sediment would be transported to the lowlands (crater floor and surrounding plains), possibly with water ice particles, by rivers, and further deposited and processed to form the sand particles that feed the neighboring dune fields. These results provide information for the operational and scientific preparation of the Dragonfly mission, paving the way for future exploration of Titan’s surface composition and geology.https://doi.org/10.3847/PSJ/acbd37TitanRadiative transferNear infrared astronomyPlanetary atmospheresPlanetary surfaces |
| spellingShingle | M. Es-sayeh S. Rodriguez M. Coutelier P. Rannou B. Bézard L. Maltagliati T. Cornet B. Grieger E. Karkoschka S. Le Mouélic A. Le Gall C. Neish S. MacKenzie A. Solomonidou C. Sotin A. Coustenis Updated Radiative Transfer Model for Titan in the Near-infrared Wavelength Range: Validation against Huygens Atmospheric and Surface Measurements and Application to the Cassini/VIMS Observations of the Dragonfly Landing Area The Planetary Science Journal Titan Radiative transfer Near infrared astronomy Planetary atmospheres Planetary surfaces |
| title | Updated Radiative Transfer Model for Titan in the Near-infrared Wavelength Range: Validation against Huygens Atmospheric and Surface Measurements and Application to the Cassini/VIMS Observations of the Dragonfly Landing Area |
| title_full | Updated Radiative Transfer Model for Titan in the Near-infrared Wavelength Range: Validation against Huygens Atmospheric and Surface Measurements and Application to the Cassini/VIMS Observations of the Dragonfly Landing Area |
| title_fullStr | Updated Radiative Transfer Model for Titan in the Near-infrared Wavelength Range: Validation against Huygens Atmospheric and Surface Measurements and Application to the Cassini/VIMS Observations of the Dragonfly Landing Area |
| title_full_unstemmed | Updated Radiative Transfer Model for Titan in the Near-infrared Wavelength Range: Validation against Huygens Atmospheric and Surface Measurements and Application to the Cassini/VIMS Observations of the Dragonfly Landing Area |
| title_short | Updated Radiative Transfer Model for Titan in the Near-infrared Wavelength Range: Validation against Huygens Atmospheric and Surface Measurements and Application to the Cassini/VIMS Observations of the Dragonfly Landing Area |
| title_sort | updated radiative transfer model for titan in the near infrared wavelength range validation against huygens atmospheric and surface measurements and application to the cassini vims observations of the dragonfly landing area |
| topic | Titan Radiative transfer Near infrared astronomy Planetary atmospheres Planetary surfaces |
| url | https://doi.org/10.3847/PSJ/acbd37 |
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