"Cassini" observed drought on Titan

New data were the result of observation of liquid hydrocarbon lake Ontario Lacus, which is located near the south pole of the satellite. Results of observations of this region from 2004 to 2008, show a change in the level of the «reservoir». According to astronomers, the rate of shallowing coincides with the settlement, due to the evaporation of hydrocarbons from the surface of the lake.

Experts note that there are alternative explanations for changes in lake levels. For example, the possibility that the liquid goes into the faults formed by kriovulkanicheskih eruptions (the role of lava on Titan performs water).

Lake Ontario Lacus was discovered during a rendezvous Cassini to Titan in December 2007. In July 2008, scientists managed to finally confirm that the lake is composed of liquid hydrocarbons, methane and ethane in particular. Before the flight probe Cassini, scientists thought that the Saturnian moon is covered by entire oceans. Upon closer examination proved that it is not so: instead of the oceans on Titan found a large number of small lakes