The atmosphere of titan and mars

In summary, while Mars has a mass of .1 Earths and a pressure of .6 kPa in its atmosphere, Titan's atmosphere has a pressure of 147 kPa despite its smaller mass of .02 Earths. This is due to Titan's distance from the sun and its geological activity through cryovolcanism, as well as its much colder temperature allowing it to retain more of its atmosphere. It is also worth noting that the compositions of Mars and Titan are vastly different, making it difficult to directly compare the two and determine the role of mass in determining a planet's atmosphere.
  • #1
robertjford80
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If Mars' mass is .1 Earths and the pressure of its atmosphere is .6 kPa then why is Titan's atmosphere 147 kpa when its mass is .02 Earths? Apparently mass is not much of a factor in determining a planet's atmosphere.
 
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  • #2
robertjford80 said:
If Mars' mass is .1 Earths and the pressure of its atmosphere is .6 kPa then why is Titan's atmosphere 147 kpa when its mass is .02 Earths? Apparently mass is not much of a factor in determining a planet's atmosphere.

Titan is a lot further away from the sun, so it can keep an atmosphere more easily than Mars can. Titan is also still geologically active so it can replenish its atmosphere through cryovolcanism, whereas (for the most part) Mars is geologically dead, with the only potential geological activity being whatever is responsible for the seasonal methane release.
 
  • #3
neat. i had to look up cryovolcanism

A cryovolcano (colloquially known as an ice volcano) is a volcano that erupts volatiles such as water, ammonia or methane, instead of molten rock.[1] Collectively referred to as cryomagma or ice-volcanic melt,[1] these substances are usually liquids and form plumes, but can also be in vapour form. After eruption, cryomagma condenses to a solid form when exposed to the very low surrounding temperature. Cryovolcanoes form on icy moons, and possibly on other low-temperature astronomical objects (e.g., Kuiper belt objects).
 
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Titan is also much colder than Mars or Earth, which allows it to retain more if it's atmosphere. Hotter atmospheres puff up more and are more easily eroded by the solar wind.
 
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thanks, good to know
 
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robertjford80 said:
If Mars' mass is .1 Earths and the pressure of its atmosphere is .6 kPa then why is Titan's atmosphere 147 kpa when its mass is .02 Earths? Apparently mass is not much of a factor in determining a planet's atmosphere.

Titan and Mars have vastly different compositions, so they're not really comparable. We've very little data on what original mass of atmosphere might've existed on either object. We don't actually know if Mars had much more atmosphere than what we see today, and we don't know if Titan was always covered in such a thick atmosphere. We have many theories, but we go visit such worlds to refine our understanding.
 

1. What is the composition of the atmosphere on Titan?

The atmosphere of Titan is primarily made up of nitrogen (about 98.4%), followed by methane (1.4%) and small amounts of other gases such as hydrogen, ethane, and acetylene.

2. How does the atmosphere on Mars compare to Earth's atmosphere?

The atmosphere on Mars is much thinner than Earth's, with a surface pressure less than 1% of Earth's. It is mostly composed of carbon dioxide (95%) with traces of nitrogen, argon, and oxygen.

3. What causes the orange color of Titan's atmosphere?

The orange color of Titan's atmosphere is caused by the presence of organic compounds, or molecules made up of carbon and hydrogen, which are produced when methane is broken down by the Sun's ultraviolet radiation.

4. How does the atmosphere on Titan affect its surface temperature?

The thick atmosphere on Titan traps heat from the Sun, creating a greenhouse effect that keeps the surface temperature at a frigid -290 degrees Fahrenheit (-179 degrees Celsius).

5. Is there any evidence of past or present life in the atmospheres of Titan or Mars?

While there is no conclusive evidence of life on either Titan or Mars, scientists have found organic molecules, the building blocks of life, in the atmospheres of both planets. Further exploration and research is needed to determine if life ever existed or could exist on these worlds.

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