T
titanian
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The Titan radar images have revealed a multitude of lakes at 78 degrees north latitude. At Titan's landing site ( -10 degrees south latitude ), no lakes or seas were observed. Perhaps that the lakes in Titan's north polar region are linked to lower temperatures. Titan might encounter major changes depending on the season because the obliquity of its rotation axis is higher than that of the Earth ( 26 degrees compared to 23.5) and the atmosphere is denser and deeper.<br />I've made some comparative calculations between Titan and the Earth:<br />Luanda ( Angola), 9 degrees south latitude ( around the same latitude as Titan's landing site),mean temperature in January: 26.7 degrees celsius.<br />Svalbard ( Arctic region ), 78 degrees north latitude ( similar latitude to Titan's lakes), mean air temperature in January: -15.3 degrees celsius.<br />The amount of energy received in Svalbard is around 80% higher than that of Luanda in this period of the year.<br />If we extrapolate that configuration to Titan, we have a surface temperature of -179.5°C in Titan's landing site ( -291 degrees Fahrenheit or 93.5 Kelvin )...<br />And if we postulate that at 78 degrees north latitude, the amount of energy received is also 80% higher than in Titan's landing site, we obtain temperatures which can drop as low as -192 degrees celsius ( -314 degrees Fahrenheit or 81 Kelvin ) that is not far from the melting point of nitrogen ( -196 degrees celsius ).<br />But the seasons might be well marked on Titan due to the obliquity and the deep atmosphere. So can we envisage seas of nitrogen if it's not methane or ethane?<br />If you ave any objection to the relevance of the analysis, don't hesitate to give your remarks.<br /><br />www.titanexploration.com<br /><br />