Mathematics – Logic
Scientific paper
Dec 2006
adsabs.harvard.edu/cgi-bin/nph-data_query?bibcode=2006agufm.p23e0098v&link_type=abstract
American Geophysical Union, Fall Meeting 2006, abstract #P23E-0098
Mathematics
Logic
6218 Jovian Satellites, 6221 Europa
Scientific paper
Grooves and ridges on the surface of Jovian moon Europa show a possibility of a liquid ocean under the icy surface, caused by tidal heating as a result of Europan eccentric orbit around Jupiter. By using an altimeter on an orbital mission to Europa the daily tidal deformation could be measured. To find a relation between the deformation, water or slush and ice properties, we adapted a normal mode model to include internal fluid or low-viscosity layers. The additional unknowns that had to be introduced at the solid-fluid boundaries are constrained by relating radial stress to the offset between the solid-fluid boundaries and the equipotential surfaces. The viscoelastic response that is modeled is used to determine daily vertical deformation as a function of viscosity, thickness and depth of the low-viscosity layer. We show that an altimeter mission should be able to detect a fluid layer between ice and mantle layer and to distinguish a fluid layer from a slush layer to some extent. On of the main uncertainties in such interpretation is the rigidity of the Europan ice. The viscoelastic response is also used to relate the phase lag to the material and rheological properties of the ice and slush and the ice thickness. For all realistic situations the relaxation times of the mantle and the core are too long to contribute to a phase lag with the surface ice layer. Based on surface features, it is suggested that Europan rotation is faster than its revolution. In this case, Europa would complete a rotation counterclockwise with respect to Jupiter on a timescale of 10,000 years. Since the relaxation times of the mantle and the core are of this order of magnitude, it is possible that the tidal bulge of the mantle and core is not aligned with the subjovian point. An altimetry mission can observe the presence of such offset. This would make it possible to constrain the material and rheological properties of those layers. Furthermore, it could be predicted whether the surface is co-rotating with the mantle or not. In the latter case, only the surface would rotate with respect to Jupiter, while the mantle and core would be locked to Jupiter.
Kleuskens M. H.
Vermeersen B. L.
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