[X] My Assistant

[belleraphon1]

Another related IAU Titan press release and a RADAR image mosaic I have not seen before..

"The new image released by JPL accompanying this release shows what appears to be a dried-out lake at Titan's south pole. Lopes thinks that the hydrocarbons there likely evaporated because this hemisphere is experiencing summer. When the seasons change in several years and summer returns to the northern latitudes, the lakes so common there may evaporate and end up pooling in the south."

http://www.iau.org/public_press/news/detail/iau0915/

Titan looms...

Craig

[Juramike]

Actually, I think the Greater Mezzoramia Basin might be much, much bigger than what is indicated.

Some of the channel features show patterns consistent with a significant downward base level change. I'm starting to suspect that Titan, or at least the southern hemisphere, has dried out significantly and maybe even permanently. I doubt it is seasonal, and I'm starting to wonder if it is even cyclical.

(An analysis of one of the north polar lake channel networks also showed incision, but that may have been due to a regional tectonic uplift).

[Wild speculation: [early cold sun] Nitrogen/methane seas --> [now] methane in atmosphere/hidden reservoirs --> (photoproduction of ethane from methane) --> [later] ethane seas] Not sure if all that would work.]