Jumping the Gun for waves on Titan

Well, this caught my attention...in a bad way.


Conclusions from a Space contributor:

The liquid-hydrocarbon lakes and seas on Titan are incredibly calm, suggesting that future missions to the huge Saturn moon could enjoy a smooth ride to the surface, a new study reports.

The waves rippling the three largest lakes in Titan's northern hemisphere are tiny, according to the study — just 0.25 inches (1 centimeter) high by about 8 inches (20 cm) long.

"There's a lot of interest in one day sending probes to the lakes, and when that's done, you want to have a safe landing, and you don't want a lot of wind," study lead author Cyril Grima, a research associate at the University of Texas Institute for Geophysics (UTIG), said in a statement. "Our study shows that because the waves aren't very high, the winds are likely low." [Amazing Photos: Titan, Saturn's Largest Moon]

The liquid-hydrocarbon lakes and seas on Titan are incredibly calm, suggesting that future missions to the huge Saturn moon could enjoy a smooth ride to the surface, a new study reports. The waves rippling the three largest lakes in Titan's northern hemisphere are tiny, according to the study — just 0.25 inches (1 centimeter) high by about 8 inches (20 cm) long. "There's a lot of interest in one day sending probes to the lakes, and when that's done, you want to have a safe landing, and you don't want a lot of wind," study lead author Cyril Grima, a research associate at the University of Texas Institute for Geophysics (UTIG), said in a statement. "Our study shows that because the waves aren't very high, the winds are likely low." [Amazing Photos: Titan, Saturn's Largest Moon]

Liza responds to the comments above:

There has always been an oddity about Titan's lakes.

But here are facts we know: Gravity is only 14% of Earth's Gravity.

Light from the sun is less than 1 percent of the light on Earth.

When the probe landed on  Titan, the winds swung that puppy all around. The winds were also quite erratic, going one way and then another.

Based on those facts, if there are high winds, which clearly existed the day the probe landed, they should be able to send giant waves across the lake areas given gravity is only 14 percent as strong as Earth's.

Yet, Cassini reported back the waves were less than an centimeter tall. Which means, it might not even be a wave at all. The lake surface could have a frozen cover of methane ice which could be more flexible than our water ice on earth. Thus, it might be a bit wiggly, allowing faint movements in the frozen surface. Or, these "waves" might simply be sand or surface snow on an otherwise frozen lake.

Sadly, their conclusions were simply the winds aren't strong and landing near the lakes will be a breeze. Maybe, maybe not. (probably NOT)

Even a small breeze would create huge waves (given the 14% gravity vs. Earth's gravity) and I find it hard to believe if there are winds blowing over the planet, the north and south poles escapes the wind.

I believe it is far more likely the surface of the lake IS FROZEN. The fact it can reflect light is no surprise at all...Ice is far better at reflecting light than water is.

So I was very disappointed with the analysis provided above.

However, I agree with another comment made, that the lakes could hold life. 

I think it very likely. As to the observation that the life would be nothing like us, yes and no. 

First, we are made of different liquids. Water vs. Methane, but given all the creatures we have on earth, some of which seem to be miniature copies of other creatures, I think it is possible that some life forms will take on forms similar to creatures on earth only they will be methane based. 

Life is both amazing, complex, and copycatish. 

And here is a not entirely accurate video (Not all the lakes on Titan are Methane.) but otherwise it does a good job about the possibility of life on Titan.

I see no reason why there won't be life in the lakes of Titan. However, don't expect to drop off a submarine to check things out. The surface of the lake might be far more difficult to enter than you think. If you drop an AI controlled submarine drone on its surface, it could very likely be stuck there on the surface forever.

If you listened to the entire video, you will discover that key scientists believe (at the time this was made) that Titan has mild winds. Compared to Jupiter and Saturn, yes they are mild. But in my opinion, they probably won't be mild enough to travel safely by balloon, especially around the equator. 

But I could be wrong. Titan is a master at hiding it's secrets.


I continue to read all updates from NASA, because I'm writing a two books series. Destination: Titan and Arrival: Titan and I'm trying to be accurate as I can be so when it comes out next year, it will still be believable.