With its methane lakes and frozen surface, Saturn’s moon Titan has little in common with Earth. However, some of the small craters that pockmark its surface may have the same origin as some of the holes that are currently opening in Siberia!
Only two stars in the Solar System have liquid atmospheres on their surfaces. Earth, of course, but also TitanTitanthe frozen moon SaturnSaturn. However, the resemblance between these two institutions ends there, or almost. Because, if on Earth, it is indeed liquid water that flows, on Titan, there are rivers and lakes of methane and other hydrocarbons that decorate an icy and desert landscape where temperatures would have reigned at -180°C. is
These lakes, where swimming would not be good, are mainly located in polar regions. By studying them, scientists noticed that some were nested in small craters about ten kilometers in diameter characterized by raised rims, hence the name “rampart craters”.
This MorphologyMorphology Craters are particularly famous on Mars, where they were created by meteorite impacts. However, scientists believe that they have a completely different origin on Titan, and are very similar to some of the craters observed on Earth.
Very similar craters on Earth.
For about ten years, we’ve actually been seeing strange craters forming on the frozen plains of Siberia. If, in the beginning, the sudden formation of these gaping holes permafrostpermafrost Asked researchers, recent studies have revealed their origins. These would actually be craters not formed by the collapse of one. AlkaThe meteorbut from the explosion of natural gas in the underground and especially deep-seated methane hydrate ice. The Global WarmingGlobal WarmingBy affecting the surface zone of permafrost, these deeply frozen surfaces will be destabilized, leading to methane release. Increase in pressurepressure Inside the rocks would eventually create a violent explosion, creating a hole similar to the rampart craters seen on Titan’s surface.
However, we do know that Titan’s basement must contain a significant layer of methane hydrates. Is it possible that the craters on this moon were formed by the same mechanism as on Earth?
Different possible scenarios.
For researchers behind an article published in a journal Journal of Geophysical Research: Planetthis is a possibility that should not be ignored. Until now, Titan’s rampart craters were either associated with the formation of “karst” from the dissolution of one. The crystThe cryst Hydrocarbon snow by liquid hydrocarbons, or of volcanic origin, especially during blow-type explosions that water, after penetrating the crust, encounters reservoirs. MagmaMagma. on titan, ReagentsReagents However will not be completely the same, the magma will be replaced by cryo magma. AquaticAquaticand water by liquid hydrocarbons. However, these hypotheses did not fully satisfy the observations.
GE Brouwer and his colleagues at the University of Hawaii conducted a series for this reason. ModelingModeling To test the two most likely hypotheses: type explosions ButBut or detonation from methane accumulation following destabilization of methane hydrates.
Their results suggest that depending on the composition of Titan’s crust, both of these hypotheses may be correct. A Mar-type explosion would be favored only in the case of a crust containing water ice, while the explosion ExclusionExclusion The amount of methane would make more sense in the context of a crust composed primarily of organic compounds. However, in both cases, the amount of methane released during the explosion would be quite high, 1011 At 1014 KiloKiloTo ensure maintenance of EnvironmentEnvironment Rich in methane, a feature of Titan whose origin was until now poorly understood.
