Astronomy and Astrophysics – Astronomy
Scientific paper
Oct 2010
adsabs.harvard.edu/cgi-bin/nph-data_query?bibcode=2010dps....42.3207n&link_type=abstract
American Astronomical Society, DPS meeting #42, #32.07; Bulletin of the American Astronomical Society, Vol. 42, p.1013
Astronomy and Astrophysics
Astronomy
Scientific paper
We use limb profiles to investigate the long-wavelength topography and topographic variance spectra of Rhea and Europa. One-dimensional variance spectra for Rhea show a break in slope at a wavelength of ? km and may be a signature of an elastic lithosphere having a thickness Te˜15 km. The implied heat flux is ˜10 mW/m2, much higher than can be explained by long-lived radionuclides. A similar break in slope is seen for Europa limb profiles, but occurs at ˜60 km wavelength, implying a lower elastic thickness of about 4 km. We use the 1D spectral behaviour to constrain our solution for the long-wavelength global topography of Rhea. The degree-three topography is large enough, if uncompensated, to contaminate estimates of the degree-two gravity using existing flyby data. Current models of Rhea internal structures which rely on these degree-two estimates may thus be inaccurate, illustrating the need to acquire further Rhea gravity data
Asmar Sami W.
Bills Bruce G.
Nimmo Francis
Thomas Peter C.
No associations
LandOfFree
Geophysical Implications Of The Long-wavelength Topography Of Rhea And Europa 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 Geophysical Implications Of The Long-wavelength Topography Of Rhea And Europa, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Geophysical Implications Of The Long-wavelength Topography Of Rhea And Europa will most certainly appreciate the feedback.
Profile ID: LFWR-SCP-O-1227800