Physics
Scientific paper
Aug 2011
adsabs.harvard.edu/cgi-bin/nph-data_query?bibcode=2011adspr..48..718h&link_type=abstract
Advances in Space Research, Volume 48, Issue 4, p. 718-724.
Physics
2
Scientific paper
Key information on Europa's interior can be gained by monitoring tidally-induced surface deformations from orbiting and landed spacecraft. Such observations would provide constraints on the thickness and rheology of Europa's ice and liquid water layer, being thus an important tool to characterize basic physical properties of the satellite's putative subsurface water ocean. Focusing on the outer ice-I layer we will present relations between the interior of Europa and key tidal parameters that can be retrieved from an instrument suite monitoring tidally-induced changes of local gravity, tilt, latitude and strain at the surface. A most promising approach would involve laser altimetry and gravitational field observations from an orbiting spacecraft combined with monitoring of tidally-induced gravity and tilt changes at the surface. However, tidal measurements at the surface may be significantly impeded by instrumental drift, instrument coupling to the surface, local sources of noise and the presumably short life-time of the instruments due to the harsh radiation environment.
Hussmann Hauke
Oberst Jürgen
Sohl Frank
No associations
LandOfFree
Measuring tidal deformations at Europa's surface does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this scientific paper.
If you have personal experience with Measuring tidal deformations at Europa's surface, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Measuring tidal deformations at Europa's surface will most certainly appreciate the feedback.
Profile ID: LFWR-SCP-O-1738026