Formation of a hot proto-atmosphere on the accreting giant icy satellite: Implications for the origin and evolution of Titan, Ganymede, and Callisto

Details Formation of a hot proto-atmosphere on the accreting giant icy satellite: Implications for the origin and evolution of Titan, Ganymede, and Callisto Formation of a hot proto-atmosphere on the accreting giant icy satellite: Implications for the origin and evolution of Titan, Ganymede, and Callisto

Oct 1994

adsabs.harvard.edu/cgi-bin/nph-data_query?bibcode=1994jgr....9921183k&link_type=abstract

Journal of Geophysical Research (ISSN 0148-0227), vol. 99, no. E10, p. 21,183-21,200

Mathematics

Logic

21

Atmospheric Composition, Atmospheric Models, Callisto, Deposition, Evolution (Development), Ganymede, Icy Satellites, Satellite Atmospheres, Titan, Carbon Monoxide, Mathematical Models, Nitrogen, Surface Temperature, Water

Scientific paper

Judging from accretion energy and accretion time for the giant icy satellites it is suggested that a proto-atmosphere is formed by the evaporation of icy materials during accretion of these bodies around the proto-gaseous giant planets. The blanketing effect of proto-atmosphere during accretion of these satellites in the gas-free environment is studied. We use a gray atmosphere model in which the condensation of H2O in a convective atmosphere is taken into account. The numerical results strongly suggest that the accretion energy flux is large enough to increase the surface temperature higher than approximately 500 K during accretion due to the blanketing effect of proto-atmosphere as long as the accretion time is shorter than 105 years. Such a high surface temperature causes the formation of a deep water-rich ocean due to the melting of icy materials. Also, a rocky core should be eventually formed by sinking of rocky materials through the water-rich ocean during accretion. Therefore, the apparent difference in the surface geologic features between Ganymede and Callisto can hardly be explained by whether or not these bodies have experienced the formation of rocky core. Stability of hydrostatic structure of the proto-atmosphere is also studied. Vigorous escape of the proto-atmosphere is likely to occur under high surface temperature. A large portion of accretional energy is possibly consumed by the vigorous escape during accretion. Thus, the giant icy satellites may lose a significant amount of icy materials during their accretions.

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