{
  "abstract": "Previous ALMA observations have revealed unexpectedly strong and rapid variations in Titan's high-altitude equatorial zonal winds, which present a challenge to our understanding of this moon's atmospheric dynamics. Here we report further measurements of Titan's zonal wind field at middle atmospheric altitudes $\\approx200$-490 km, based on ALMA observations of spatially and spectrally resolved CH$_3$CN emission between 2016-2023 (corresponding to a solar longitude $L_s=81.6^{\\circ}$-$156.4^{\\circ}$, spanning Titan's late southern autumn to late winter). These observations indicate substantial, ongoing, rapid temporal variability of Titan's zonal winds, on timescales as short as $\\approx1$ Earth month ($0.9^{\\circ}$ in $L_s$). The strongest variability is at (near-)equatorial latitudes where the zonal winds are fastest (up to $240\\pm26$ ms$^{-1}$), with repeated $\\sim40$ ms$^{-1}$ fluctuations occurring between $L_s=146.0^{\\circ}$-$156.4^{\\circ}$. The observed longer-term trends are qualitatively well-reproduced by two independent, state-of-the-art general circulation models (GCMs), which match the observed decrease in zonal wind speeds over a broad range of latitudes between $L_s=81.6^{\\circ}$-$146.0^{\\circ}$, followed by a more moderate increase between $L_s=146.0^{\\circ}$-$156.4^{\\circ}$. The wind speeds at mid-to-high latitudes ($\\sim-45^{\\circ}$ south) are also typically reasonably well reproduced by the GCMs (differing by $\\lesssim30$%). However, the equatorial wind speeds are up to a factor of $\\sim2$ faster than model predictions (with the greatest discrepancy around solstice; $L_s\\approx90^{\\circ}$). Rapid temporal variability of the retrieved zonal winds indicates the presence of strong atmospheric instabilities that are not well reproduced by models, suggesting a need for future GCM improvements.",
  "abstract_shown": true,
  "affiliations": [],
  "article_type": null,
  "arxiv": "2610.03635",
  "author_total": 13,
  "authors": [
    {
      "name": "Martin A. Cordiner"
    },
    {
      "name": "Yuan Lian"
    },
    {
      "name": "Juan M. Lora"
    },
    {
      "name": "Nicholas A. Lombardo"
    },
    {
      "name": "Lucy Wright"
    },
    {
      "name": "Jonathon Nosowitz"
    },
    {
      "name": "Richard Cosentino"
    },
    {
      "name": "Nicholas A. Teanby"
    },
    {
      "name": "Conor A. Nixon"
    },
    {
      "name": "Alexander E. Thelen"
    },
    {
      "name": "Claire E. Newman"
    },
    {
      "name": "Steven B. Charnley"
    },
    {
      "name": "Eliot F. Young"
    }
  ],
  "bibtex": "https://research.draconitic.com/paper/7vwvy6262z8x8.bib",
  "cited_by": 0,
  "doi": "10.48550/arxiv.2610.03635",
  "fulltext_url": null,
  "id": "7vwvy6262z8x8",
  "issns": [],
  "landing_url": "https://arxiv.org/abs/2610.03635",
  "language": null,
  "licence": "CC-BY-NC-ND-4.0",
  "licence_label": "CC BY-NC-ND 4.0",
  "licence_source": "article",
  "licence_url": "http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/",
  "metadata_licence": "CC0-1.0",
  "native_subjects": [
    [
      "arxiv",
      "astro-ph.EP"
    ]
  ],
  "openalex": null,
  "pdf_url": "https://arxiv.org/pdf/2610.03635",
  "pmcid": null,
  "pmid": null,
  "published": "2026-10-02",
  "publisher": null,
  "ris": "https://research.draconitic.com/paper/7vwvy6262z8x8.ris",
  "sources": [
    {
      "first_seen": "2026-10-30T12:26:45Z",
      "native_id": "2610.03635",
      "source": "arxiv",
      "url": "https://arxiv.org/abs/2610.03635"
    }
  ],
  "subjects": [
    {
      "field": "astronomy",
      "origin": "arxiv:astro-ph.EP",
      "subfield": "planetary"
    }
  ],
  "title": "Temporal Variability of Titan's Middle-Atmospheric Zonal Winds from Southern Fall to Late Winter (2016-2023)",
  "title_text": "Temporal Variability of Titan's Middle-Atmospheric Zonal Winds from Southern Fall to Late Winter (2016-2023)",
  "type": "preprint",
  "updated_at": "2026-10-30T12:26:45Z",
  "url": "https://research.draconitic.com/paper/7vwvy6262z8x8",
  "venue": "arXiv",
  "versions": []
}