Plate Tectonics:Ice-Quake Mapping of Titan

James Kuhn, Caralee Starling, Mikenna Smith

Credentials

Caralee Starling, Ph. DDoctorate of Geology, Post-Doctorate of

SeismologyProfessor of Earth Sciences at Princeton University

James Kuhn, Ph. DDoctorate of Aerospace EngineeringNASA Head Aerospace Engineer on the Cassini

mission and Huygen rover

Mikenna Smith, Ph. DDoctorate of Analytical ChemistryNASA Analyst of extraterrestrial atmospheric

compositions

Background

Earth’s Plate Tectonics:Promote high levels of global biodiversity

Geological features create environmental complexity and stimulate speciation

Affect global climate Recycle mineral and chemical compounds in

sedimentary rock and release of greenhouse gases via volcanic eruption

Aid in the generation of magnetic field Evacuate heat released by convection cells in the

liquid iron core that originate from Earth’s rotation

Background

Titan:Geological surface features

Appalachian-sized mountain chains, highest peak 6,600 feet

Possible ice volcano Sotra Facula

Atmosphere 95% nitrogen and 5% hydrocarbons Possibly replenished by volcanic eruption

Surface liquid Liquid hydrocarbon rivers and lakes

Possible subsurface ocean Theorized to exist 62 miles below surface, separating it

from the core and allowing the crust to move

Sotra Facula

Reflection from Titan Lake

Mountain Chains

Aims

Find evidence for plate tectonics by looking for: Ridge movement around Sotra Facula

The placement and depth of possible ice-quakes

Stratigraphy suggesting unconformity in the sediment

Historical atmospheric composition (stability)

Aim and Experiment I

To determine if Sotra Facula is on a divergent plate boundary Four rovers will be sent to Titan and

situated around the theorized ice volcano, Sotra Facula

Rovers will be stationary and remote signal between each rover to determine if the distance between any of them increases over the span of the mission

Aim and Experiment II

To record the location and depth of possible ice-quakesFour rovers will be equipped with

seismographs to record the theorized seismic activity resulting from ice-quakes to map out the plate boundaries

Aim and Experiment III

To search for evidence of geological disruption around Sotra Facula by examining the stratigraphy of the drill coresThe drill cores will be imaged to analyze

the strata of ice layers. Angular unconformities will indicate plate tectonics

Aim and Experiment IV

To examine Titan’s historic atmospheric compositionIn addition, the rovers will be equipped

with a gas chromatograph Ice-cores will be drilled around Sotra

Facula and air trapped in the ice-cores will be analyzed with the gas chromatograph to evaluate past atmospheric conditions

Significance

Importance of plate tectonics on Earth

• Prerequisite for life

Opportunity to look at other conditions of plate tectonics

Titan is the best candidate for such plate tectonics in our solar system

References Ward P, Brownlee D. The Surprising Importance of Plate Tectonics. In: Rare Earth:

Why Complex Life Is Uncommon in the Universe. New York: Copernicus Books. 2000. p.191-220.

NASA [Internet]. Washington D.C.: Cassini Spacecraft Images Seas on Saturn’s Moon Titan; 2007 [cited April 2011]; [About 10 paragraphs]. Available from: http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/cassini/.

NASA [Internet]. Washington D.C.: Raisin’ Mountains on Saturn’s Moon Titan; 2010 [cited April 2011]; [About 12 paragraphs]. Available from: http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/cassini/.

NASA [Internet]. Washington D.C.: Surprise Hidden on Titan’s Smog: Circus-Like Clouds; 2011 [cited April 2011]; [About 33 paragraphs]. Available from: http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/cassini/.

NASA [Internet]. Washington D.C.: NASA Confirms Liquid Lake on Saturn Moon; 2008 [cited April 2011]; [About 10 paragraphs]. Available from: http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/cassini/.

NASA [Internet]. Washington D.C.: Cassini Spacecraft Finds Ocean May Exist Beneath Titan’s Crust; 2008 [cited April 2011]; [About 9 paragraphs]. Available from: http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/cassini/.

NASA [Internet]. Washington D.C.: New Theory: Titan Shaped by Weathering, Not Ice Volcanoes; 2011 [cited April 2011]; [About 13 paragraphs]. Available from: http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/cassini/.

NASA [Internet]. Washington D.C.: Saturn’s Moon Titan: Planet Wannabe; 2004 [cited April 2011]; [About 25 paragraphs]. Available from: http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/cassini/.

Images retrieved from NASA

Questions?

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