| Literature DB >> 16675695 |
R D Lorenz1, S Wall, J Radebaugh, G Boubin, E Reffet, M Janssen, E Stofan, R Lopes, R Kirk, C Elachi, J Lunine, K Mitchell, F Paganelli, L 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.
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 approximately 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 approximately 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.Mesh：
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Year: 2006 PMID： 16675695 DOI： 10.1126/science.1123257
Source DB: PubMed Journal: Science ISSN： 0036-8075 Impact factor: 47.728