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https://doi.org/10.1088/0004-637x/747/1/36
Copy DOIJournal: The Astrophysical Journal | Publication Date: Feb 13, 2012 |
Citations: 6 |
It is known that clouds are present in the troposphere of Titan; however, their formation mechanism, particle size, and chemical composition remain poorly understood. In this study, a two-component (CH{sub 4} and N{sub 2}) bin-microphysics model is developed and applied to simulate cloud formation in the troposphere of Titan. A new process, binary nucleation of particles from CH{sub 4} and N{sub 2} gases, is considered. The model is validated and calibrated by recent laboratory experiments that synthesize particle formation in Titan-like environments. Our model simulations show that cloud layers can be formed at about 20 km with a particle size ranging from one to several hundred {mu}m and number concentration 10{sup -2} to over 100 cm{sup -3} depending on the strength of the vertical updraft. The particles are formed by binary nucleation and grow via the condensation of both CH{sub 4} and N{sub 2} gases, with their N{sub 2} mole fraction varying from 30% in the condensation growth stage. The locally occurring CH{sub 4}-N{sub 2} binary nucleation mechanism is strong and could potentially be more important than the falling condensation nuclei mechanism assumed in many current models.
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