Mathematics – Logic
Scientific paper
Sep 2006
adsabs.harvard.edu/cgi-bin/nph-data_query?bibcode=2006dps....38.2403g&link_type=abstract
American Astronomical Society, DPS meeting #38, #24.03; Bulletin of the American Astronomical Society, Vol. 38, p.521
Mathematics
Logic
Scientific paper
Apart from the Earth and Io, Enceladus is the only solar system body for which ongoing geologic activity has been reported. The activity is concentrated near Enceladus' south pole, a recently resurfaced region dissected by extensional graben structures which exhibit abnormally high surface temperatures and are the source of geysers feeding Saturn's E-ring. At 55 deg latitude the active region is enclosed by concentric fold margin indicative of compressional tectonic activity. This has led to the notion that activity is driven by a hot mantle plume, the energy being provided by tidal dissipation within the heated material, a model consistent with the reorientation of the active region towards the pole by true polar wander.
In contrast to the active south pole, the north polar region is heavily cratered and appears to have been inactive for a very long time. The origin of this asymmetric appearance remains unclear, but an endogenic origin seems likely. In this paper we investigate the state of Enceladus' interior dynamics using 2D-axisymmetric convection models and assuming Enceladus to be in an equilibrium state where the energy output observed by infrared spectroscopy is provided by homogeneous dissipation within the body. We explore the range of parameters that allow for the formation of large scale convection cells, thus leading to the formation of degree-one convection patterns and the development of asymmetric activity. As the state of Enceladus' internal differentiation (differentiated, partially differentiated, undifferentiated) is poorly constrained, we will consider differentiated as well as undifferentiated models.
Grott Matthias
Hussmann Hauke
Sohl Frank
No associations
LandOfFree
Degree-one Convection And The Origin Of Enceladus' Hot Spot 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 Degree-one Convection And The Origin Of Enceladus' Hot Spot, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Degree-one Convection And The Origin Of Enceladus' Hot Spot will most certainly appreciate the feedback.
Profile ID: LFWR-SCP-O-999395