Investigation of Titan's meteorology in the light of the Cassini/Huygens mission by means of a general circulation model

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The dense atmosphere of Saturn’s largest moon Titan represents an outstanding naturallaboratory to investigate meteorology in the context of comparative planetology. The ongoingCassini/Huygens mission at Titan detected drainage channels, drizzle, polar lakes anddifferent types of clouds suggestive of an Earth-like hydrological cycle composed ofhydrocarbons. Monitoring clouds will not resolve the mechanism of methane condensation,precipitation and exchange of volatiles at the surface. Instead numerical models thatcomprehensively take into account various atmospheric and surface processes controllingthe fate of methane in Titan’s troposphere are required. In the extended period of the projectthe global methane hydrological cycle shall be simulated by means of a general circulationmodel. The model is intended to explain the formation mechanism of the observed clouds, tomake quantitative predictions of the global precipitation and to investigate the influence ofpolar lakes and topography on the hydrological cycle. Particularly the role of global-scaleatmospheric circulation will be scrutinised. The third year of the project shall complement thestudies on Titan’s meteorology that was focussed on atmospheric dynamics in the initial twoyears.