Journal of Undergraduate Research
Keywords
wind-dominated landforms, Saturn's moon, Titan, earth analogues
College
Physical and Mathematical Sciences
Department
Geological Sciences
Abstract
The largest moon of Saturn, Titan, has a thick atmosphere of nitrogen and a pressure similar to that of Earth at the surface. There are winds, strong enough to have produced two wind-dominated landforms similar to those on Earth – vast fields of sand dunes and smaller collections of wind-carved ridges, or yardangs. We seek to understand the relationships between the observed landforms and the winds and surface materials required to form them, both on Earth and Titan. This study of the shapes of winddominated landforms, dunes and yardangs, will help answer key questions about the surface of Titan at the end of the era of the Cassini spacecraft. Our work will demonstrate the importance of wind on planetary surfaces.
Recommended Citation
Radebaugh, Jani; Christiansen, Eric; and Tass, Shannon
(2019)
"Understanding the Wind-dominated Landforms of Saturn’s Moon Titan Through Earth Analogues,"
Journal of Undergraduate Research: Vol. 2019:
Iss.
2019, Article 197.
Available at:
https://scholarsarchive.byu.edu/jur/vol2019/iss2019/197