Infrared imaging by JPL's Cassini spacecraft has shown the existence of large methane lakes near the equator of Saturn's moon Titan. One of them is about the size of Utah's Great Salt Lake at its lowest recorded level and is at least three feet deep. The spacecraft also discovered smaller, shallower "ponds" nearby similar to marshes on Earth, with knee- to ankle-level depths.
Astronomers have previously observed large methane lakes near Titan's poles, but the discovery of the "tropical" lakes is a surprise because it was generally assumed that this region was too warm to allow such lakes to exist for any length of time. Titan's weather system is similar to Earth's in one respect, but with liquid methane instead of water. The methane near the equator evaporates and is transported by winds to the poles, where it condenses back into a liquid. On Earth, the water is carried back to the equator by ocean currents, but there is no comparable mechanism on Titan, so researchers have assumed there could be no large bodies of methane near the equator. . . .
Showing posts with label Methane Lakes. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Methane Lakes. Show all posts
