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Measuring Winds in Titan's Atmosphere with High-precision Doppler Velocimetry

D. Luz, R. Courtin

Abstract
The technique of absolute velocimetry has been applied to the backscattered solar spectrum of Titan in order to measure the Doppler shift associated with the zonal circulation in the equatorial region. Eastward winds were measured, with lower limits of 62 and 50 ms-1 at altitudes near 200 and 170 km, and significant statistical evidence was observed for stronger winds at the higher altitudes. The same technique was applied in January 2005 as part of an international effort in support of the European Space Agency’s Huygens Probe mission and led to wind speed values quite consistent with our previous results.

Precision Spectroscopy in Astrophysics
N. C. Santos, Pasquini. L., A. C. M. Correia, M. Romaniello

Springer Berlin Heidelberg, Page 215
2008 January

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Faculdade de Ciências da Universidade de Lisboa Universidade do Porto Faculdade de Ciências e Tecnologia da Universidade de Coimbra
Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia COMPETE 2020 PORTUGAL 2020 União Europeia