The Phase Composition of Triton's Polar Caps

@article{Duxbury1993ThePC,
  title={The Phase Composition of Triton's Polar Caps},
  author={N. S. Duxbury and R. Hamilton Brown},
  journal={Science},
  year={1993},
  volume={261},
  pages={748 - 751}
}
Triton's polar caps are modeled as permanent nitrogen deposits hundreds of meters thick. Complex temperature variations on Triton's surface induce reversible transitions between the cubic and hexagonal phases of solid nitrogen, often with two coexisting propagating transition fronts. Subsurface temperature distributions are calculated using a two-dimensional thermal model with phase changes. The phase changes fracture the upper nitrogen layer, increasing its reflectivity and thus offering an… 
View on AAAS
ncbi.nlm.nih.gov
24 Citations
Highly Influential Citations
1
Background Citations
5

24 Citations

Spectroscopic Determination of the Phase Composition and Temperature of Nitrogen Ice on Triton

The surface temperature of Triton is found to be 38.0+2.0–1.0 K, in agreement with previous temperature estimates and measurements, and there is no spectral evidence for the presence of α-nitrogen onTriton's surface, indicating that there is less than 10 percent carbon monoxide in solid solution with the nitrogen on the surface.

Emissivity and the Fate of Pluto's Atmosphere

Abstract We present a simplified model for seasonal changes in Pluto's surface–atmosphere system. The model demonstrates the potential importance of the solid-state phase transition between α-N 2 and…

Surface/Atmosphere Interactions and Volatile Transport (Triton, Pluto, and Io)

On Triton and Pluto, the volatile frosts are held close to a single temperature by hydrostatic equilibrium and latent heat transport. Their atmospheres are expected to undergo extreme seasonal…

Global warming on Triton

Triton, Neptune's largest moon, has been predicted to undergo significant seasonal changes that would reveal themselves as changes in its mean frost temperature. But whether this temperature should…

The Surface Compositions of Triton, Pluto, and Charon

Neptune’s satellite Triton, and the planet-satellite binary Pluto and Charon, are the most distant planetary bodies on which ices have been directly detected. Triton and Pluto have very similar…

The Role of an Internal Heat Source for the Eruptive Plumes on Triton

Abstract For the first time the role of the internal heat source, due to radioactive decay in Triton's core, is investigated with respect to geyser-like plumes. Triton is one of only three known…

Coupling of Internal Volatile Transport and Heatflow on Triton

Recently Brown eta/. (Science 250, 1991) showed that Triton's internal heat source could amount to 5-20% of the absorbed insolation on Triton, thus significantly affecting volatile transport and…

Coupling of volatile transport and internal heat flow on Triton

Recently Brown et al. (1991) showed that Triton's internal heat source could amount to 5–20% of the absorbed insolation on Triton, thus significantly affecting volatile transport and atmospheric…

Condensation of Nitrogen: Implications for Pluto and Triton

Abstract We have observed in the laboratory that nitrogen condenses initially as a transparent layer if the deposition rate is less than about 3 μm/hr. To correlate our laboratory results with the…

Volatile transport modeling on Triton with new observational constraints

References

SHOWING 1-10 OF 14 REFERENCES

A thermal model for the seasonal nitrogen cycle on Triton

Spectroscopic Determination of the Phase Composition and Temperature of Nitrogen Ice on Triton

The surface temperature of Triton is found to be 38.0+2.0–1.0 K, in agreement with previous temperature estimates and measurements, and there is no spectral evidence for the presence of α-nitrogen onTriton's surface, indicating that there is less than 10 percent carbon monoxide in solid solution with the nitrogen on the surface.

Large seasonal variations in Triton's atmosphere

Triton's Global Heat Budget

Indications of recent global albedo change on Triton suggest that Trit on's surface temperature and pressure may not now be in steady state, further suggesting that atmospheric pressure onTriton was as much as ten times higher in the recent past.

Ices on the Surface of Triton

The near-infrared spectrum of Triton reveals ices of nitrogen, methane, carbon monoxide, and carbon dioxide, of which nitrogen is the dominant component, which challenges existing models of methane and nitrogen photochemistry on Tritons.

Nitrogen on Triton

Subsurface Energy Storage and Transport for Solar-Powered Geysers on Triton

The location of active geyser-like eruptions and related features close to the current subsolar latitude on Triton suggests a solar energy source for these phenomena and a variety of models for the storage of solar energy in a sub-greenhouse layer and for the supply of gas and energy to a geysers are examined.

NITROGEN FROST MIGRATION ON TRITON: A historical model

I present the results of numerical simulation of the seasonal migration of nitrogen frost on Triton constrained by Voyager observations of atmospheric pressure, temperature, and albedo distribution.…

The influence of thermal inertia on temperatures and frost stability on Triton

Voyager 2 at Neptune: Imaging Science Results

Voyager 2 images of Neptune reveal a windy planet characterized by bright clouds of methane ice suspended in an exceptionally clear atmosphere above a lower deck of hydrogen sulfide or ammonia ices.…