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The Outer Planets and their Moons pp 171–184Cite as

Formation and Evolution of Titan’s Atmosphere

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Part of the book series: Space Sciences Series of ISSI ((SSSI,volume 19))

Abstract

The origin and evolution of Titan’s enigmatic atmosphere is reviewed. Starting with the present-day volatile inventory, the question of what was the original composition on Titan and how a satellite of similar size to other Galilean moons managed to acquire and hold on to the required material is discussed. In particular the possible sources and sinks of the main mother molecules (nitrogen, methane and oxygen) are investigated in view of the most recent models and laboratory experiments. The answers expected to be provided by the instruments aboard the Cassini-Huygens mission to some of the most prominent current questions regarding Titan’s atmosphere are defined.

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. LESIA, Paris-Meudon Observatory, 5, place Jules Jannsen, 92195, Meudon Cedex, France

    Athena Coustenis

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  1. Athena Coustenis
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Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Laboratoire d’Etudes Spatiales et Instrumentales en Astrophysique, Observatoire de Paris, F-92195, Meudon Cedex, France

    T. Encrenaz

  2. International Space Science Institute, CH-3012, Bern, Switzerland

    R. Kallenbach

  3. University of Hawaii at Manoa, Honolulu, HI, 96822, USA

    T. C. Owen

  4. Laboratoire de Planétologie et Géodynamique, F-44322, Nantes Cedex 3, France

    C. Sotin

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© 2005 Springer

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Coustenis, A. (2005). Formation and Evolution of Titan’s Atmosphere. In: Encrenaz, T., Kallenbach, R., Owen, T.C., Sotin, C. (eds) The Outer Planets and their Moons. Space Sciences Series of ISSI, vol 19. Springer, Dordrecht. https://doi.org/10.1007/1-4020-4038-5_11

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/1-4020-4038-5_11

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  • Publisher Name: Springer, Dordrecht

  • Print ISBN: 978-1-4020-3362-9

  • Online ISBN: 978-1-4020-4038-2

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