Mathematics – Logic
Scientific paper
May 2004
adsabs.harvard.edu/cgi-bin/nph-data_query?bibcode=2004agusmsa22a..02b&link_type=abstract
American Geophysical Union, Spring Meeting 2004, abstract #SA22A-02
Mathematics
Logic
2427 Ionosphere/Atmosphere Interactions (0335), 5409 Atmospheres: Structure And Dynamics, 5707 Atmospheres: Structure And Dynamics, 5780 Tori And Exospheres, 6218 Jovian Satellites
Scientific paper
The existence of a sub-surface ocean at Europa and the possibility of its sustaining life is one of the most exciting scientific questions of our time. Unfortunately, the remoteness of the satellite makes it difficult to study this ocean directly. Studies of the atmosphere and atmospheric escape can provide clues needed for understanding Europa's icy shell and sub-surface ocean. The composition and energy distribution of material escaping from Europa are indicative of the interaction between its surface and the local plasma. Observations of this material made from Earth can provide insight into Europa's surface composition and interior and will help determine the capabilities needed for future Europa missions. The discovery of Europa's molecular oxygen atmosphere (Hall et al. 1995) was quickly followed by ground based observations of a sodium exosphere extending more than ten satellite radii above Europa's surface (Brown and Hill 1996). Modeling of this exosphere by Leblanc et al. (2002) indicates that roughly 40% of the material sputtered from Europa's surface escapes forming an extended neutral cloud in orbit around Jupiter. Recent Cassini and Galileo spacecraft observations are suggestive of water products lost from Europa (Mauk et al. 2003, Lagg et al. 2003) and constitute the first observations of Europa's extended cloud. We consider models of the large scale morphology of this cloud which suggest significant morphological differences from the extensively studied Io neutral cloud. We also discuss strategies for confirming these predictions by observing the sodium and oxygen components of the neutral cloud as they extend along Europa's orbit. References: Brown, M. E. and R. E. Hill, Nature, 380, 229-231, 1996. Hall, D. T., D. F. Strobel, P. D. Feldman, M. A. McGrath, and H. A. Weaver, Nature 373, 677, 1995. Lagg, A., N. Krupp, J. Woch, and D. J. Williams, GRL, 30, 10-1, 2003. Leblanc, F., R. E. Johnson, and M. E. Brown, Icarus 159, 132-144, 2002. Mauk, B. H., D. G. Mitchell, S. M. Krimigis, E. C. Roelof, and C. P. Paranicas, Nature, 421, 920-922, 2003.
Burger Matthew Howard
Johnson Robert E.
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