Abstract
In the lower atmosphere of Titan IR brightness temperatures exhibit meridional contrast ≲3 K. Seasonal variations are absent because of the large radiative time constant. In the upper stratosphere meridional contrasts are ∼20 K, consistent with 100 m s−1 cyclostrophic zonal winds, and the radiative time constant is short, implying a large seasonal variation in the temperature and wind field. The absence of longitudinal thermal structure implies that zonally symmetric flows effect the meridional transport of heat. A simple model yields meridional velocities ∼0.04 cm s−1 and vertical eddy viscosities ∼103 cm2 s−1 in the lower troposphere, and meridional velocities ∼5 cm s−1 in the upper stratosphere.
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Flasar, F., Samuelson, R. & Conrath, B. Titan's atmosphere: temperature and dynamics. Nature 292, 693–698 (1981). https://doi.org/10.1038/292693a0
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/292693a0
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