Thermochemical Constraints of the Old Faithful Model for Radiation-Driven Cryovolcanism on Enceladus

Details Thermochemical Constraints of the Old Faithful Model for Radiation-Driven Cryovolcanism on Enceladus Thermochemical Constraints of the Old Faithful Model for Radiation-Driven Cryovolcanism on Enceladus

Oct 2010

adsabs.harvard.edu/cgi-bin/nph-data_query?bibcode=2010dps....42.2506c&link_type=abstract

American Astronomical Society, DPS meeting #42, #25.06; Bulletin of the American Astronomical Society, Vol. 42, p.996

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We have used a combination of thermochemical data, plume composition, and the estimated surface power flux to constrain the Old Faithful model for radiation-driven cryovolcanism on Enceladus (1). This model proposes episodic cryovolcanic activity brought about by the chemical reaction between reductants that are primordially present within Enceladus's ice, and oxidants produced by energetic particles impacting the icy surface. Assuming no limit on accumulation of oxidants in the ice crust in the billions of years since formation and subsequent magnetospheric irradiation of Enceladus, this new work extends (1) by examining limits on activity from reductant abundances. Our calculations show that an almost negligible amount of methane or ammonia, compared with the mass of Enceladus, would potentially be needed to account for the surface power flux of the gas plume over 10 million years of activity, consistent with geologic models for episodic overturn of the ice crust and heat flow (2). Limiting the permanently ejected fluid mass during this time by the volume of the topographical depression in the SPT of Enceladus, we have constrained the number ratio of reductant-to-water. Results are in support of our model. In addition, using the measured abundances of CO2 and N2 (products of CH4 and NH3 oxidation) in the plume, we have further constrained the amounts of CH4 and NH3 that could be present and these are also in line with our predictions. These calculations fully support the Old Faithful model (1).
1)
Cooper, J. F., Cooper, P. D. Sittler, E. C., Sturner, S. J., Rymer, A. M., "Old Faithful Model for Radiolytic Gas-Driven Cryovolcanism at Enceladus", Planet. Space Sci., 57, 1607-1620,2009.
2)
O'Neill, C., F. Nimmo, "The Role of Episodic Overturn in Generating the
Surface Geology and Heat Flow on Enceladus, Nature Geosci., 3, 88-91. 2010.

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