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[45.01] The 3-dimensional distribution of atmospheric haze on Titan observed using spatially-resolved infrared spectroscopy

M. Adamkovics, I. de Pater (UC Berkeley), S. G. Gibbard (LLNL), C. A. Griffith (University of Arizona)

We present results from atmospheric models used to interpret spatially-resolved 1.6 and 2.2~\mum spectra of Titan taken in 2001 and 2005, directly before and after southern polar Summer. Spectra from these wavelength ranges are sensitive to the vertical distribution of organic aerosols. These spatially-resolved spectra provide the observations that are necessary to remotely retrieve the 3-dimensional distribution of Titan's atmospheric haze. We discuss the radiative transfer model used to fit the vertical distribution of aerosols and present a comparison of haze profiles recovered from H- and K-bands, with a focus on constraining the tropospheric aerosol distribution. We present the development of this code for haze profile retrievals using spectral datacubes from various near-IR bandpasses and instruments. The spectroscopically determined haze distributions show seasonal variations that suggest need for long-term observations with ground-based field-integral spectrometers.

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Bulletin of the American Astronomical Society, 37 #3
© 2004. The American Astronomical Soceity.