Enceladus: Starting Hydrothermal Activity

Matson, D. L.; Castillo-Rogez, J. C.; Johnson, T. V.; Lunine, J. I.; Davies, A. G.

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NASA NTRS · 20150006657

Enceladus: Starting Hydrothermal Activity

Matson, D. L.·Castillo-Rogez, J. C.·Johnson, T. V.·Lunine, J. I.·Davies, A. G.

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Abstract

We describe a process for starting the hydrothermal activity in Enceladus' South Polar Region. The process takes advantage of fissures that reach the water table, about 1 kilometer below the surface. Filling these fissures with fresh ocean water initiates a flow of water up from an ocean that can be self-sustaining. In this hypothesis the heat to sustain the thermal anomalies and the plumes comes from a slightly warm ocean at depth. The heat is brought to the surface by water that circulates up, through the crust and then returns to the ocean.

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Matson, D. L., Castillo-Rogez, J. C., Johnson, T. V., Lunine, J. I., Davies, A. G.. 2011-10-02. Enceladus: Starting Hydrothermal Activity. https://ntrs.nasa.gov/citations/20150006657

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