Cassini Discovers Ripples and Unique Methane-Ethane Composition in Titan’s Seas
While the ripples in these seas were small—reaching heights of 3.3 mm in open waters and 3.6-5.2 mm near coastal areas—the findings provide valuable clues about Titan's dynamic weather systems and liquid interactions.
NASA’s Cassini spacecraft has made a discovery on Saturn’s moon Titan, revealing ripples on its methane and ethane seas. This finding offers new insights into the unique characteristics of Titan, which hosts liquid bodies similar to Earth but composed of hydrocarbons instead of water.
Researchers re-analyzed data from Cassini’s radar experiments conducted between 2014 and 2016. Their goal was to explore the surface properties of Titan’s Kraken, Punga, and Ligeia seas, discovering significant differences in their methane-ethane composition and wave activity. While the ripples in these seas were small—reaching heights of 3.3 mm in open waters and 3.6-5.2 mm near coastal areas—the findings provide valuable clues about Titan's dynamic weather systems and liquid interactions.
Titan, often described as an Earth-like world, has a complex hydrological cycle driven by methane and ethane rains that feed its rivers and seas. The research team observed that the composition of Titan's seas varied significantly, with methane-rich rivers flowing into ethane-dominated seas, a pattern resembling Earth’s freshwater and saltwater systems.
These variations in surface roughness and composition could help scientists better understand the atmospheric and surface dynamics of Titan.