Carrie M. Anderson

SEASONAL DISAPPEARANCE OF FAR-INFRARED HAZE IN TITAN'S STRATOSPHERE

A far-infrared emission band attributed to volatile or refractory haze in Titans stratosphere has been decreasing in intensity since Cassinis arrival in 2004. The 220?cm?1 feature, first seen by the Voyager Infrared Interferometer Spectrometer, has only been found in Titans winter polar region. The emission peaks at about 140?km altitude near the winter stratospheric temperature minimum. Observations recorded over the period 2004-2012 by the Composite Infrared Spectrometer on Cassini show a decrease in the intensity of this feature by about a factor of four. Possible seasonal causes of this decline are an increase in photolytic destruction of source chemicals at high altitude, a lessening of condensation as solar heating increased, or a weakening of downwelling of vapors. As of early 2012, the 220?cm?1 haze has not yet been detected in the south. The haze composition is unknown, but its decrease is similar to that of HC3N gas in Titans polar stratosphere, pointing to a nitrile origin.

FIRST OBSERVATION IN THE SOUTH OF TITAN'S FAR-INFRARED 220 cm(-1) CLOUD

An emission feature at 220 cm{sup -1} which has been attributed to a cloud of condensed material in Titans winter stratosphere has been seen for the first time in the south. This feature had previously been found only at high northern latitudes during northern winter and spring. The material emitting at 220 cm{sup -1}, as yet unidentified, may be volatiles associated with nitrile gases that accumulate in the absence of ultraviolet sunlight. Not detected as recently as 2012 February, the 220 cm{sup -1} feature clearly appeared at the south pole in Cassini spectra recorded on 2012 July 24, indicating a rapid onset of the emission. This is the first indication of the winter buildup of condensation in the southern stratosphere that has been expected as the south pole moves deeper into shadow. In the north the 220 cm{sup -1} feature continued to decrease in intensity with a half-life of 3 years.

Composite Infrared Spectrometer (CIRS) on Cassini

The Cassini spacecraft orbiting Saturn carries the composite infrared spectrometer (CIRS) designed to study thermal emission from Saturn and its rings and moons. CIRS, a Fourier transform spectrometer, is an indispensable part of the payload providing unique measurements and important synergies with the other instruments. It takes full advantage of Cassinis 13-year-long mission and surpasses the capabilities of previous spectrometers on Voyager 1 and 2. The instrument, consisting of two interferometers sharing a telescope and a scan mechanism, covers over a factor of 100 in wavelength in the mid and far infrared. It is used to study temperature, composition, structure, and dynamics of the atmospheres of Jupiter, Saturn, and Titan, the rings of Saturn, and surfaces of the icy moons. CIRS has returned a large volume of scientific results, the culmination of over 30 years of instrument development, operation, data calibration, and analysis. As Cassini and CIRS reach the end of their mission in 2017, we expect that archived spectra will be used by scientists for many years to come.

Evolution of the Far-Infrared Cloud at Titan's South Pole

A condensate cloud on Titan identified by its 220 cm−1 far-infrared signature continues to undergo seasonal changes at both the north and south poles. In the north, the cloud, which extends from 55 N to the pole, has been gradually decreasing in emission intensity since the beginning of the Cassini mission with a half-life of 3.8 years. The cloud in the south did not appear until 2012 but its intensity has increased rapidly, doubling every year. The shape of the cloud at the south pole is very different from that in the north. Mapping in 2013 December showed that the condensate emission was confined to a ring with a maximum at 80 S. The ring was centered 4° from Titans pole. The pattern of emission from stratospheric trace gases like nitriles and complex hydrocarbons (mapped in 2014 January) was also offset by 4°, but had a central peak at the pole and a secondary maximum in a ring at about 70 S with a minimum at 80 S. The shape of the gas emission distribution can be explained by abundances that are high at the atmospheric pole and diminish toward the equator, combined with correspondingly increasing temperatures. We discuss possible causes for the condensate ring. The present rapid build up of the condensate cloud at the south pole is likely to transition to a gradual decline from 2015 to 2016.

Nitrogen in the Stratosphere of Titan from Cassini CIRS Infrared Spectroscopy

In this chapter we describe the remote sensing measurement of nitrogen-bearing species in Titan’s atmosphere by the Composite Infrared Spectrometer (CIRS) on the Cassini spacecraft. This instrument, which detects the thermal infrared spectrum from 10 to 1,500 cm− 1 (1,000–7 \(\mu\)m) is sensitive to vibrational and rotational emissions of gases and condensates in Titan’s stratosphere and lower mesosphere, permitting the measurement of ambient temperature and the abundances of gases and particulates. Three N-bearing species are firmly detected: HCN, HC3N and C2N2, and their vertical and latitudinal distributions have been mapped. In addition, ices of HC3N and possibly C4N2 are also seen in the far-infrared spectrum at high latitudes during the northern winter. The HC15N isotopologue has been measured, permitting the inference of the 14N/15N in this species, which differs markedly (lower) than in the bulk nitrogen reservoir (N2). We also describe the search in the CIRS spectrum, and inferred upper limits, for NH3 and CH3CN. CIRS is now observing seasonal transition on Titan and the gas abundance distributions are changing accordingly, acting as tracers of the changing atmospheric circulation. The prospects for further CIRS science in the remaining 5 years of the Cassini mission are discussed.

Composite infrared spectrometer (CIRS) on Cassini: publisher’s note

This publishers note renumbers the reference list in Appl. Opt.56, 5274 (2017)APOPAI0003-693510.1364/AO.56.005274.