The Huygens Probe - Titan's Geology
Data from the Huygens probe has shown that many of the processes that occur on Earth also take place on Titan. Wind, rain, volcanoes, tectonic activity, river channels, and drainage patterns all seem to contribute in shaping Titan’s surface. The chemistry that drives these processes is very different from Earth’s. For example it is methane, rather than water, that performs many of the same functions on Titan as Earth.
The Huygens probe landed near a bright region now called Adiri, and photographed light hills with dark river beds that empty into a dark plain. It was previously believed that this dark plain could be a lake, but it is now known that Huygens landed in the dark region, and it is solid. Scientists believe it only rains occasionally on Titan, but the rains are extremely fierce when they come. Radar has detected radio frequencies from the moon and think the possibility of an underground ocean cannot be ruled out.
Only a small number of impact craters have been discovered. This suggests that Titan’s surface is constantly being resurfaced by a fluid mixture of water and possibly ammonia, believed to be expelled from volcanoes and hot springs. Some surface features, such as lobate flows, appear to be volcanic structures. Volcanism is now believed to be a significant source of methane in Titan’s atmosphere. However, there are no oceans of hydrocarbons as previously hypothesized. Dunes cover large areas of the surface.
The Cassini-Huygens mission, using wavelengths ranging from ultraviolet to radio, is consistently revealing Titan and answering long-held questions regarding Titan’s interior, surface, atmosphere, and the complex interaction with Saturn’s magnetosphere.