Erosion on Titan: Past and present

We examine various mechanisms of erosion on Titan and their likely effect on Titan's geomorphology. Specifically we evaluate the solubility of likely crustal ices (water and ammonia) in liquid methane and ethane, and compare these with the solubility of rocks on Earth. Aeolian and diurnal weathering can be neglected, and glacial erosion is unlikely unless the atmosphere has frozen out in the past. Erosion due to rainfall is at most comparable to periglacial environments on Earth. We find that additional laboratory experiments are required if Cassini observations are to be adequately interpreted. (C) 1996 Academic Press, Inc.