Sand Transport on Titan: A Sticky Problem

Saltation modeling by Comola et al. (2022, https://doi.org/10.1029/2022GL097913) considering a higher interparticle cohesion suggests smaller sand size on Titan than previously assumed, with possibly frequent sand transport. These predictions are testable by the Dragonfly mission presently under dev...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Geophysical research letters 2022-05, Vol.49 (10), p.n/a
Main Author: Lorenz, Ralph D.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Aquatic insects
Saltation
Sand
Sand & gravel
Sand particles
Sand transport
Saturn
Saturn satellites
Sediment transport
Silicates
Titan
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Summary:Saltation modeling by Comola et al. (2022, https://doi.org/10.1029/2022GL097913) considering a higher interparticle cohesion suggests smaller sand size on Titan than previously assumed, with possibly frequent sand transport. These predictions are testable by the Dragonfly mission presently under development. Plain Language Summary The organic sand on Saturn's moon Titan may be more “sticky” than sand on Earth made from silicate rocks. A study with a novel approach to calculating how sand moves suggests that sand particles on Titan might be smaller and could move more often than previous work indicated. The Dragonfly lander will be able to study these materials and processes directly on Titan. Key Points Sand transport to form dunes depends on a threshold velocity, which is higher (and the sand size is larger) if grains stick together Titan materials may me more cohesive, and so larger than previously thought The Dragonfly mission will explore Titan's dunes
ISSN:0094-8276
1944-8007
DOI:10.1029/2022GL098375