Observations of Titan's Surface and Atmosphere from the Descent Imager/Spectral Radiometer (DISR) on the Huygens Probe

International audience; DISR characterized atmospheric radiation (350-1600 nm) and returned images and spectra of the surface of Titan. Linear polarization of the aerosol haze extending to the surface is i ˜50% at visible wavelengths. Monomers making up the aerosol particles are modeled at ˜0.1 microns, several 100 monomers making up a haze particle. The extinction optical depth at the surface is ˜4.5 at 531 nm, ˜2 at 939 nm and ˜0.5 at 1500 nm. The near-surface methane mole fraction is ˜5% (relative humidity ˜50%); methane fog or rain at the landing site is currently unlikely. Below ˜8 km the eastward zonal wind dropped to