Astronomy and Astrophysics – Astronomy
Scientific paper
Dec 1983
adsabs.harvard.edu/cgi-bin/nph-data_query?bibcode=1983angeo...1..469f&link_type=abstract
Annales Geophysicae (ISSN 0755-0685), vol. 1, Nov.-Dec. 1983, p. 469-476.
Astronomy and Astrophysics
Astronomy
6
Planetary Evolution, Planetary Structure, Planetary Temperature, Saturn Satellites, Thermal Conductivity, Convective Flow, Dione, Iapetus, Ice, Latent Heat, Planetary Geology, Regolith, Rhea (Astronomy), Satellite Surfaces, Tethys
Scientific paper
Thermal evolution models of the relatively young Saturnian satellites, Tethys, Dione, Rhea, and Iapetus, are proposed while stressing the effect of convection, measured by the Nusselt number. Four different models, concurring quantitatively with observations, assess the effects of initial heating, latent heat in phase transition, and a low thermal conductivity regolith. Thermal evolution is propelled by primordial heat and energy from decaying radioactive isotopes and is regulated by ice rheology and ice phase transition. The melting of water ice seems not have occurred during the life of the satellites, which indicates that they could still be a homogeneous mixture of ice and rocks (silicate particles). The possible existence of vigorous endogenic activity and radial expansion of the overall structure, limited to the first stage of evolution, is demonstrated.
Federico Cinzia
Lanciano P.
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