Open access
Date
2010-03Type
- Journal Article
ETH Bibliography
no
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Abstract
Strong evidence for ethane clouds in various regions of Titan's atmosphere has recently been found. Ethane is usually assumed to exist as ice particles in these clouds, although the possible role of liquid and supercooled liquid ethane droplets has been recognized. Here, we report on infrared spectroscopic measurements of ethane aerosols performed in the laboratory under conditions mimicking Titan's lower atmosphere. The results clearly show that liquid ethane droplets are significantly stabilized by methane gas which is ubiquitous in Titan's nitrogen atmosphere — a phenomenon that does not have a counterpart for water droplets in Earth's atmosphere. Our data imply that supercooled ethane droplets are much more abundant in Titan's clouds than previously anticipated. Possibly, these liquid droplets are even more important for cloud processes and the formation of lakes than ethane ice particles. Show more
Permanent link
https://doi.org/10.3929/ethz-b-000423190Publication status
publishedExternal links
Journal / series
The Astrophysical Journal LettersVolume
Pages / Article No.
Publisher
IOP PublishingSubject
planets and satellites; atmospheresOrganisational unit
03961 - Signorell, Ruth / Signorell, Ruth
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ETH Bibliography
no
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