Surprising Swirls Above Titan’s South Pole
Thanks to Cassinis new vantage point granted by its inclined orbit researchers have gotten a new look at the south pole of Titan, Saturns largest moon. What theyve recently discovered is a swirling vortex of gas forming over the moons pole, likely the result of the approach of winter on Titans southern hemisphere.
What were seeing here is thought to be an open cell convection process in Titans upper atmosphere. In open cells, air sinks in the center of the cell and rises at the edge, forming clouds at cell edges. However, because the scientists cant see the layer underneath the layer visible in these new images, they dont know what other mechanisms may be at work.
A stable atmospheric event thats found here on Earth as well, open cell convection can be compared to the action of boiling water.
Titan has already been seen to have a thicker area of high-altitude haze over its north pole, and as autumn progresses toward winter in Titans south during the course of Saturns 29.7-year-long orbit this may very well be the beginnings of a southern polar hood.
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http://www.universetoday.com/96209/cassini-spots-surprising-swirls-above-titans-south-pole/