Titan's atmosphere vs temperature.

AI Thread Summary
Titan's atmosphere is maintained by its extremely low temperatures, which prevent atmospheric particles from reaching escape velocity. The escape velocity on Titan is 2.6 km/s, while the average energy of nitrogen particles at around 100K is only about 240 m/s, significantly lower than the required threshold. This energy disparity indicates that Titan's atmospheric retention is effective due to its cold environment. A substantial increase in temperature would be necessary for significant atmospheric loss to occur. Thus, the low temperatures are crucial for Titan's ability to hold onto its thick atmosphere.
tanzanos
Messages
62
Reaction score
0
I was wondering at what temperature would Titan's atmospheric particles reach escape velocity? Since Titan lacks the mass to hold onto its present atmosphere then would I be wrong to conclude that what holds such a thick atmosphere is the extremely low temperatures found on Titan?
 
Astronomy news on Phys.org
The escape velocity is 2.6km/s, at ~100K a typical energy for nitrogen is ~240m/s, a factor of 10 below the escape velocity. In terms of energy, this is a factor of 100, that's fine.
The temperature would have to be significantly higher to get large losses.
 
  • Like
Likes 1 person

Thread 'Does it make sense to build new radio telescopes?'

TL;DR Summary: In 3 years, the Square Kilometre Array (SKA) telescope (or rather, a system of telescopes) should be put into operation. In case of failure to detect alien signals, it will further expand the radius of the so-called silence (or rather, radio silence) of the Universe. Is there any sense in this or is blissful ignorance better? In 3 years, the Square Kilometre Array (SKA) telescope (or rather, a system of telescopes) should be put into operation. In case of failure to detect...
View full post »
Thread 'Could gamma-ray bursts have an intragalactic origin?'

Thread 'Could gamma-ray bursts have an intragalactic origin?'

This is indirectly evidenced by a map of the distribution of gamma-ray bursts in the night sky, made in the form of an elongated globe. And also the weakening of gamma radiation by the disk and the center of the Milky Way, which leads to anisotropy in the possibilities of observing gamma-ray bursts. My line of reasoning is as follows: 1. Gamma radiation should be absorbed to some extent by dust and other components of the interstellar medium. As a result, with an extragalactic origin, fewer...
View full post »

Thread 'Our Beautiful Universe - Photos and Videos'

This thread is dedicated to the beauty and awesomeness of our Universe. If you feel like it, please share video clips and photos (or nice animations) of space and objects in space in this thread. Your posts, clips and photos may by all means include scientific information; that does not make it less beautiful to me (n.b. the posts must of course comply with the PF guidelines, i.e. regarding science, only mainstream science is allowed, fringe/pseudoscience is not allowed). n.b. I start this...
View full post »

Similar threads

I Atmospheric escape parametre statistics
Replies
1
Views
2K
I Disappearing lakes on Titan - seasonal cycles
Replies
4
Views
3K
I Comparing the formation of the atmospheres on Earth vs Venus
Replies
1
Views
2K
B Terraforming Venus: Why Nobody Discusses It?
2
Replies
71
Views
12K
Temperature - Effect on atmospheric pressure.
Replies
13
Views
12K
I What Factors Create the Windiest Exoplanets?
Replies
8
Views
2K
Can Winged Humanoids Realistically Exist on Other Planets?
Replies
9
Views
3K
Why Does Titan Have Fewer Impact Craters?
Replies
5
Views
6K
I Requirements for a breathable atmosphere
Replies
17
Views
6K
B Albedo, atmosphere, and predicted temperature of Venus
Replies
7
Views
4K

Hot Threads

Recent Insights

Back
Top