Mathematics – Logic
Scientific paper
May 2010
adsabs.harvard.edu/cgi-bin/nph-data_query?bibcode=2010georl..3709204g&link_type=abstract
Geophysical Research Letters, Volume 37, Issue 9, CiteID L09204
Mathematics
Logic
2
Planetary Sciences: Solar System Objects: Saturnian Satellites, Planetary Sciences: Comets And Small Bodies: Composition (1060), Planetary Sciences: Comets And Small Bodies: Interiors (8147), Geochemistry: Planetary Geochemistry (5405, 5410, 5704, 5709, 6005, 6008)
Scientific paper
Recent data from the Cassini spacecraft suggest that an ocean exists inside Saturn's satellite Enceladus. Here, we show that the size of an ocean can be estimated if the NaCl concentration of the ocean is known. We find that concentrations of aqueous NaCl reported by Postberg et al. (2009) imply a relatively large ocean, comprising at least 17% by mass of volatiles on Enceladus. Structural calculations indicate that this ocean would underlie more of Enceladus' surface than just the geologically active south polar region, consistent with modeling of localized tidal dissipation. Conduction calculations suggest that a half-global ocean can be maintained by steady-state tidal heating, provided that clathrate hydrate dominates Enceladus' ice shell. We also find that rapid freezing of oceanic water could release large fluxes of stored tidal heat, perhaps partly explaining the anomalous energy output of Enceladus. An alternative, saltier ocean model is also examined.
Glein Christopher R.
Shock Everett L.
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