The low electrical conductivity of Titan's lower atmosphere

Titan's near-surface atmosphere, with a relatively high density and weak ion production by cosmic rays or other sources, likely has lower electrical conductivity than the Earth's, possibly <1 fS/m. Direct measurements Relaxation Probe on Huygens constrain it to be <0.5 pS/m, extrapolation from higher altitudes suggests orders of magnitude this. We investigate why several published models indicate much conductivity: appears that aerosol removal electrons may have been underestimated, photoelectron emission aerosols overestimated. propose simple analytic description negative profile form Log10(?) = A + B*z*exp(?[z/C]^D) -15, B 0.15, C 100 km, D 1.5 where z is altitude (0–150 km) ? ion/electron in S/m. Some local enhancement at surface occur due radiocarbon recent deposits, significant perturbation result radioisotope power source Dragonfly rotorcraft lander. consider, cannot dismiss completely, hypothesis material measured probe, its sudden reduction 11 min after landing, associated wind change altering abundance nearby ions produced radiation probe's Radioisotope Heater Units.