Publication Abstracts

Lorenz et al. 2008

Lorenz, R.D., B.W. Stiles, R.L. Kirk, M.D. Allison, P. Persi del Marmo, L. Iess, J.I. Lunine, S.J. Ostro, and S. Hensley, 2008: Titan's rotation reveals an internal ocean and changing zonal winds. Science, 319, 1649-1651, doi:10.1126/science.1151639.

Cassini radar observations of Saturn's moon Titan over several years show that its rotational period is changing and is different from its orbital period. The present-day rotation period difference from synchronous spin leads to a shift of ∼0.36° per year in apparent longitude and is consistent with seasonal exchange of angular momentum between the surface and Titan's dense superrotating atmosphere, but only if Titan's crust is decoupled from the core by an internal water ocean like that on Europa.

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BibTeX Citation

@article{lo08000d,
  author={Lorenz, R. D. and Stiles, B. W. and Kirk, R. L. and Allison, M. D. and Persi del Marmo, P. and Iess, L. and Lunine, J. I. and Ostro, S. J. and Hensley, S.},
  title={Titan's rotation reveals an internal ocean and changing zonal winds},
  year={2008},
  journal={Science},
  volume={319},
  pages={1649--1651},
  doi={10.1126/science.1151639},
}

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RIS Citation

TY  - JOUR
ID  - lo08000d
AU  - Lorenz, R. D.
AU  - Stiles, B. W.
AU  - Kirk, R. L.
AU  - Allison, M. D.
AU  - Persi del Marmo, P.
AU  - Iess, L.
AU  - Lunine, J. I.
AU  - Ostro, S. J.
AU  - Hensley, S.
PY  - 2008
TI  - Titan's rotation reveals an internal ocean and changing zonal winds
JA  - Science
JO  - Science
VL  - 319
SP  - 1649
EP  - 1651
DO  - 10.1126/science.1151639
ER  -

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