Enceladus plumes linked to tidal friction
Posted: Thu, May 17, 2007, 6:39 AM ET (1039 GMT)
Frictional heating along fault lines on the surface of Saturn's moon Enceladus may be the explanation for plumes of vapor emitted by the moon, scientists said this week. In a paper published in the current issue of the journal Nature, scientists said that tidal forces created by the moon's eccentric orbit around Saturn cause fault lines in the icy moon's outer shell to flex, generating heat through friction. That heat causes ice to sublimate, and in turn escapes in the form of plumes that have been detected by NASA's Cassini spacecraft. The mechanism doesn't require the presence of liquid water to generate the plumes, but does suggest that a liquid water ocean exists below the moon's icy shell, allowing the shell to move enough to generate the required frictional heating.
Frictional heating along fault lines on the surface of Saturn's moon Enceladus may be the explanation for plumes of vapor emitted by the moon, scientists said this week. In a paper published in the current issue of the journal Nature, scientists said that tidal forces created by the moon's eccentric orbit around Saturn cause fault lines in the icy moon's outer shell to flex, generating heat through friction. That heat causes ice to sublimate, and in turn escapes in the form of plumes that have been detected by NASA's Cassini spacecraft. The mechanism doesn't require the presence of liquid water to generate the plumes, but does suggest that a liquid water ocean exists below the moon's icy shell, allowing the shell to move enough to generate the required frictional heating.
Related Links:
| <<previous article | next article>> |
|
news in brief
|
|
NASA releases report on Starliner crewed test flight problems
Posted: Sun, Feb 22 11:45 AM ET (1645 GMT) |
|
news links
|
|
Sunday, February 22
Exolaunch Successfully Integrates Five Satellites with 'Spectrum' launch vehicle Ahead of Second Isar Aerospace Launch, A Landmark Mission for European and German Launch Sovereignty
Exolaunch — 5:51 pm ET (2251 GMT) Sateliot and PLD Space sign first commercial contract for a dedicated launch of two Tritó satellites with MIURA 5
PLD Space — 5:49 pm ET (2249 GMT) What cold-water geysers on Earth reveal about the habitability of ocean worlds
PSI — 5:48 pm ET (2248 GMT) AAC Clyde Space ships VIREON satellites for launch
AAC Clyde Space — 5:48 pm ET (2248 GMT) Crosshill Joins as Space ISAC Member
Space ISAC — 5:43 pm ET (2243 GMT) |
