Dr. Jonathan I. Lunine
Lunar and Planetary Laboratory
University of Arizona
Tucson, AZ 85721
General Description of Interdisciplinary Investigation:
This Huygens Project interdisciplinary scientific investigation
is concerned with the study the interaction of Titan's surface
and atmosphere on spatial scales ranging from meters to global,
on timescales from seasonal to geologic. The investigation will
make use of the Cassini/Huygens science data base to determine
the detailed nature of the Titan atmosphere-surface interaction.
Scientific Objectives of Interdisciplinary Investigation:
Characterize the chemical composition and physical phase
configuration of the surface on all spatial scales accessible
to probe and orbiter instruments.
determine the vertical atmospheric structure, gas-phase composition
as a function of altitude, cloud composition and structure versus
altitude, and wind velocity profile.
Quantify the coupled surface-atmosphere interactions, chemical
and physical, on seasonal to geologic timescales.
Understand the long-term evolution of Titan, in particular
to quantify the processes by which Titan's current volatile inventory
was acquired, and provide some constraints on the initial inventory.
For additional information on the Lunar and Planetary
Lab of the University of Arizona, see http://www.lpl.arizona.edu/grad/academic/faculty/lunine.html
(LPL homepage).