Recent research led by planetary scientists at the University of Hawai'i at Mānoa has revealed new insights into Titan, Saturn's largest moon, which is the only other known celestial body with an atmosphere and surface liquids. The study published in The Planetary Science Journal indicates that methane gas may be trapped within a thick ice crust on Titan, influencing its methane-rich atmosphere and the formation of its impact craters.
The research team, including Lauren Schurmeier and Gwendolyn Brouwer, used NASA data to find that Titan's impact craters are shallower than expected, with only 90 identified. This suggests a unique geological process is at play, leading to rapid topographic changes.
Using computer modeling, the researchers estimated the thickness of Titan's methane clathrate crust to be between 5 to 10 kilometers (3 to 6 miles). This crust is believed to insulate Titan's interior, keeping it warm and potentially allowing for geological activity.
Understanding the thickness of this crust is crucial for explaining Titan's methane-rich atmosphere and its carbon cycle. The findings suggest that Titan may serve as a natural laboratory for studying methane's role in climate processes, with implications for understanding similar mechanisms on Earth.
Future exploration is on the horizon, with NASA's Dragonfly mission scheduled to launch in July 2028, aiming to conduct detailed investigations of Titan's surface and its geological features.