Arrow-Shaped Cloud on Saturn's Moon Titan Caused by Atmospheric Waves
Posted on August 16, 2011
Titan, Saturn's largest moon, has an enormous white arrow shaped cloud on its surface in this image. The cloud arrow is about the size of Texas.
A research group led by Jonathan L. Mitchell, UCLA assistant professor of earth and space sciences and of atmospheric and oceanic sciences, say planetary-scale atmospheric waves affect the moon's weather pattern. This leads to a "stenciling" effect that results in sharp and sometimes surprising cloud shapes.
Mitchell says, "These atmospheric waves are somewhat like the natural, resonant vibration of a wine glass. Individual clouds might 'ring the bell,' so to speak, and once the ringing starts, the clouds have to respond to that vibration."
The research groups also say these fascinating clouds, including arrow-shaped ones, that result from the atmospheric waves, can cause intense precipitation. The rainfall can sometimes measure more than 20 times Titan's average seasonal rainfall. The intense rain could also shape Titan's surface by erosion.
The research was published here in the online edition of the journal Nature Geoscience and will be published in an upcoming print edition.