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Leslie A. Young; Tanguy Bertrand; Laurence M. Trafton; François Forget; Alissa M. Earle; Bruno Sicardy
The Pluto System After New Horizons, 08/2021Book Chapter
Much of Pluto’s surface and atmosphere can be understood by considering its volatile and climate cycles (e.g., Spencer et al., 1997). Pluto has three volatile ices on its surface and in its atmosphere: N2, CH4, and CO. N2 is the main constituent in Pluto’s atmosphere, and is present on large areas of its surface. Unlike Earth, Venus, or Titan, Pluto’s main atmospheric constituent is able to condense on its surface. This leads to important interactions between the atmosphere and surface via relaxation to solid-gas equilibrium. There are similarities with other atmospheres whose main constituent is also solid on the surface:
