methane clathrate hydrate Archives

Titan's dense atmosphere shrouds the moon beneath a tan haze in this image. Dione, another one of Saturn's many moons, can be seen through the Titan haze in this view of the two posing before the planet and its rings. Saturn's rings, viewed nearly edge-on, appear as a horizontal line. They cast shadows on the planet, which can be seen as numerous lines towards the bottom of the image. NASA/JPL-Caltech/Space Science Institute

Astrochemistry, Astrogeology, Atmospheres, Climate, Weather, Biochemistry & Organic Chemistry, Biogeochemical Cycles & Geobiology, Biosignatures & Paleobiology, Icy Worlds, Imaging & Spectroscopy, Status Report, Titan, Water/Hycean Worlds & Oceanography

Noble Gas Depletion On Titan: Clathrate Sequestration During The Open Ocean Phase

by Keith CowingMay 6, 2025May 6, 2025

A plausible explanation for the absence of primordial argon, krypton, and xenon in Titan’s current atmosphere is that these gases were sequestered in clathrate hydrates during Titan’s “open-ocean” phase.

NASA image of Titan using the Cassini VIMS (visual and infrared mapping spectrometer) instrument. One impact crater is visible near the center. The dark areas near the equator are organic-rich sand dunes, and the dark areas in the north polar region are liquid methane/ethane lakes. White clouds are also visible in the northern hemisphere. -- Credit NASA/ Cassini VIMS

Astrogeology, Biogeochemical Cycles & Geobiology, Habitable Zones, Icy Worlds, Imaging & Spectroscopy, Mapping, Geodesy, Cartography, Bathymetry, Press Release, Saturn, Titan, Water/Hycean Worlds & Oceanography

Titan Has An Insulating Methane-rich Crust Up To Six Miles Thick

by Keith CowingNovember 25, 2024November 25, 2024

Saturn’s largest moon Titan is the only place other than Earth known to have an atmosphere and liquids in the form of rivers, lakes and seas on its surface. Because […]