Geophysical Consequences of Icy Satellite Rigidity

Details Geophysical Consequences of Icy Satellite Rigidity Geophysical Consequences of Icy Satellite Rigidity

Sep 2006

adsabs.harvard.edu/cgi-bin/nph-data_query?bibcode=2006dps....38.6901n&link_type=abstract

American Astronomical Society, DPS meeting #38, #69.01; Bulletin of the American Astronomical Society, Vol. 38, p.621

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The interior structures of icy satellites are typically deduced by measuring J2 from flybys, and then using the hydrostatic assumption (i.e. zero rigidity) to deduce the polar moment of inertia. While this technique works well for the Earth, it fails dismally for Mars and the Moon. The recent detection of regional gravity anomalies on Ganymede [1] suggests loads supported by elastic stresses. Thus, the use of the hydrostatic assumption to derive structures for cold, icy bodies like Callisto [2] or Mimas should be treated with great caution [3].
The rigidity of icy satellites is important for at least three other reasons. Firstly, it controls (via the Love number k2) the degree of tidal heating experienced. For equal Love numbers, Enceladus and Europa would experience very similar diurnal tidal amplitudes. However, because Enceladus has a smaller radius it is likely to behave in a more rigid fashion than Europa, resulting in less tidal heating. Conventional (diurnal) tidal generation of the observed heat flux at Enceladus' south pole [4] requires Q/k2 of order 100, implying a relatively soft interior. Secondly, satellite rigidity controls both the magnitude of loads which are potentially capable of causing satellite reorientation, and the size of the opposing fossil bulge [5]. Finally, the near-surface rigidity (elastic thickness) influences, and may be deduced from, observations of the scale and morphology of surface tectonic features [6].
[1] Palguta et al. Icarus 180, 428-441, 2006 [2] Anderson et al. Icarus 153, 157-161, 2001 [3] McKinnon Icarus 130, 540-543, 1997 [4] Spencer et al., Science 311, 1401-1405, 2006 [5] Nimmo and Pappalardo, Nature 441, 614-616, 2006 [6] Nimmo and Schenk, J. Struct. Geol. in press.

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