Bubble streams in Titan's seas as product of liquid N2-CH4-C2H6 cryogenic mixture

Abstract

Titan, Saturn's largest moon, is the only extraterrestrial body known to support stable liquid on its surface, in the form of seas and lakes that dot the polar regions. Many indications suggest that the liquid should be composed of a mixture of N2, CH4 and C2H6. Recent RADAR observations of Titan's large sea, called ``Ligeia Mare'', have shown unexplained and ephemeral bright features, possibly due to rising bubbles. Here we report that our numerical model, when combined with experimental data found in the literature, shows that Ligeia Mare's bed is a favourable place for nitrogen exsolution. This process could produce centimeter-sized and radar-detectable bubbles.