Scientists have long recognized that Titan, Saturn’s largest moon, features rivers and lakes filled with liquid methane on its surface.
Yet, a recent study indicates that these formations are surprisingly devoid of deltas, as reported by Live Science.
On Earth, large rivers typically create deltas, which are wetlands saturated with sediment, at their mouths when they flow into larger bodies of water.
Unique among celestial bodies in our solar system, Titan is the second place, aside from Earth, where liquid flows across the surface.
Researchers thoroughly searched Titan for deltas but found none.
“We often assume that if rivers and sediment are present, deltas should naturally occur,” stated Sam Birch, the study’s lead researcher.
“However, Titan defies these expectations. It serves as a fascinating case study for processes we believed were well understood,” he elaborated.
Given that deltas are rich in sediment, the team hoped to discover these landforms on Titan, which could yield insights into the moon’s geological history and climate, and possibly even hints of extraterrestrial life.
“As a geomorphologist, it’s a bit disappointing because deltas could reveal so much about Titan’s past,” Birch remarked.
NASA’s Cassini spacecraft has confirmed the presence of liquid methane on Titan’s surface through several flybys.
During its close encounters, Cassini used synthetic aperture radar (SAR) to penetrate Titan’s thick atmosphere, uncovering extensive flat areas and winding channels indicative of significant liquid bodies.
However, the SAR data shows that the shallow liquid methane lacks distinct features, making it difficult for scientists to discern between the seabed and the shoreline.
To simulate what Cassini’s SAR would observe on Earth, Birch and his team constructed a computer model, replacing Earth’s water with Titan’s liquid methane.
“We generated synthetic SAR images of Earth, assuming Titan’s liquid properties instead of our own,” Birch explained. “After analyzing SAR images of a familiar landscape, we can apply that understanding to Titan and gain better insights into what we’re observing there.”
