The sand seas of titan: Cassini RADAR observations of longitudinal dunes

R. D. Lorenz; S. Wall; J. Radebaugh; G. Boubin; E. Reffet; M. Janssen; E. Stofan; R. Lopes; Randolph L. Kirk; C. Elachi; J. Lunine; Ken Mitchell; F. Paganelli; Laurence A. Soderblom; C. Wood; L. Wye; H. Zebker; Y. Anderson; S. Ostro; M. Allison; R. Boehmer; P. Callahan; P. Encrenaz; G.G. Ori; G. Francescetti; Y. Gim; G. Hamilton; S. Hensley; W. Johnson; K. Kelleher; D. Muhleman; G. Picardi; F. Posa; L. Roth; R. Seu; S. Shaffer; B. Stiles; S. Vetrella; E. Flamini; R. West

doi:10.1126/science.1123257

The sand seas of titan: Cassini RADAR observations of longitudinal dunes

Science

By: R. D. Lorenz, S. Wall, J. Radebaugh, G. Boubin, E. Reffet, M. Janssen, E. Stofan, R. Lopes, Randolph L. Kirk, C. Elachi, J. Lunine, Ken Mitchell, F. Paganelli, Laurence A. Soderblom, C. Wood, L. Wye, H. Zebker, Y. Anderson, S. Ostro, M. Allison, R. Boehmer, P. Callahan, P. Encrenaz, G.G. Ori, G. Francescetti, Y. Gim, G. Hamilton, S. Hensley, W. Johnson, K. Kelleher, D. Muhleman, G. Picardi, F. Posa, L. Roth, R. Seu, S. Shaffer, B. Stiles, S. Vetrella, E. Flamini, and R. West

https://doi.org/10.1126/science.1123257

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Abstract

The most recent Cassini RADAR images of Titan show widespread regions (up to 1500 kilometers by 200 kilometers) of near-parallel radar-dark linear features that appear to be seas of longitudinal dunes similar to those seen in the Namib desert on Earth. The Ku-band (2.17-centimeter wavelength) images show ∼100-meter ridges consistent with duneforms and reveal flow interactions with underlying hills. The distribution and orientation of the dunes support a model of fluctuating surface winds of ∼0.5 meter per second resulting from the combination of an eastward flow with a variable tidal wind. The existence of dunes also requires geological processes that create sand-sized (100- to 300-micrometer) particulates and a lack of persistent equatorial surface liquids to act as sand traps.

Suggested Citation

Lorenz, R.D., Wall, S., Radebaugh, J., Boubin, G., Reffet, E., Janssen, M., Stofan, E., Lopes, R., Kirk, R.L., Elachi, C., Lunine, J., Mitchell, K., Paganelli, F., Soderblom, L.A., Wood, C., Wye, L., Zebker, H., Anderson, Y., Ostro, S., Allison, M., Boehmer, R., Callahan, P., Encrenaz, P., Ori, G., Francescetti, G., Gim, Y., Hamilton, G., Hensley, S., Johnson, W., Kelleher, K., Muhleman, D., Picardi, G., Posa, F., Roth, L., Seu, R., Shaffer, S., Stiles, B., Vetrella, S., Flamini, E., West, R., 2006, The sand seas of titan: Cassini RADAR observations of longitudinal dunes: Science, v. 312, no. 5774, p. 724-727, https://doi.org/10.1126/science.1123257.

Additional publication details
Publication type	Article
Publication Subtype	Journal Article
Title	The sand seas of titan: Cassini RADAR observations of longitudinal dunes
Series title	Science
DOI	10.1126/science.1123257
Volume	312
Issue	5774
Year Published	2006
Language	English
Publisher	Nature Research
Contributing office(s)	Astrogeology Science Center
Description	4 p.
Larger Work Type	Article
Larger Work Subtype	Journal Article
Larger Work Title	Science
First page	724
Last page	727
Other Geospatial	Titan