Diverse evolution of mountains and hummocks on Titan as observed by the Cassini RADAR altimeter

Mountain formation and evolution on Titan is poorly understood, due in part to a lack of high-resolution topographic data. By applying advanced processing techniques, we are able to increase the along-track spatial resolution of the Cassini RADAR altimeter by up to a factor of ten, enabling more detailed analysis. A survey of mountainous and hummocky terrain reveals a unique, characteristic waveform shape. By modeling reflections from different landscapes, we are able to show that these waveforms contain sub-resolution topographical information. We found that mountain elevation on Titan varies greatly over short distances, and evidence suggests that many mountain ranges on Titan have been eroded down to the plains level even within a single highresolution radar footprint.

Automated summary

The formation and evolution of mountains on Titan remain poorly understood due to a lack of high-resolution topographic data. By increasing the resolution of the Cassini RADAR altimeter, we found that mountain elevations on Titan vary greatly over short distances, with many mountain ranges eroded down to the plains level.