A whole-moon thermal history model of Europa: Impact of hydrothermal circulation and salt transport

Travis, B. J.; Palguta, J.; Schubert, G.

doi:10.1016/j.icarus.2012.02.008

Cited by 62 publications

(63 citation statements)

References 80 publications

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“…This allows us to run the code with a reasonably large time step without violating the Courant condition and results in a temperature gradient across the convecting liquid layer of less than 5 mK km −1 for a typical heat flux of 2 mW m −2 , which is negligible compared to that across silicate, hydrothermal, or icy layers. Such a negligible temperature drop is consistent with more sophisticated simulations of subsurface ocean convection [ Goodman and Lenferink , ; Travis et al , ]; therefore, even our crude treatment should provide a good approximation of spatially averaged heat transfer across potential liquid layers.…”

Section: Inclusion In Thermal Evolution Codesupporting

confidence: 81%

“…In the following sections, we first briefly review the global thermal evolution model on which we base this study [ Desch et al , ]. Next, we present a model for core fracturing which expands on the work of Vance et al [] and suggestions of Travis et al [], and which is inspired by models of hydrothermal systems on Earth. We then explain how this model is incorporated as a cracking subroutine into the thermal evolution code of Desch et al [], along with the inclusion of silicate hydration and dehydration, and hydrothermal circulation in the porous layer.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Core cracking and hydrothermal circulation can profoundly affect Ceres' geophysical evolution

2015

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Observations and models of Ceres suggest that its evolution was shaped by interactions between liquid water and silicate rock. Hydrothermal processes in a heated core require both fractured rock and liquid. Using a new core cracking model coupled to a thermal evolution code, we find volumes of fractured rock always large enough for significant interaction to occur. Therefore, liquid persistence is key. It is favored by antifreezes such as ammonia, by silicate dehydration which releases liquid, and by hydrothermal circulation itself, which enhances heat transport into the hydrosphere. The effect of heating from silicate hydration seems minor. Hydrothermal circulation can profoundly affect Ceres' evolution: it prevents core dehydration via "temperature resets, " core cooling events lasting ∼50 Myr during which Ceres' interior temperature profile becomes very shallow and its hydrosphere is largely liquid. Whether Ceres has experienced such extensive hydrothermalism may be determined through examination of its present-day structure. A large, fully hydrated core (radius 420 km) would suggest that extensive hydrothermal circulation prevented core dehydration. A small, dry core (radius 350 km) suggests early dehydration from short-lived radionuclides, with shallow hydrothermalism at best. Intermediate structures with a partially dehydrated core seem ambiguous, compatible both with late partial dehydration without hydrothermal circulation, and with early dehydration with extensive hydrothermal circulation. Thus, gravity measurements by the Dawn orbiter, whose arrival at Ceres is imminent, could help discriminate between scenarios for Ceres' evolution.

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Section: Inclusion In Thermal Evolution Codesupporting

confidence: 81%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Core cracking and hydrothermal circulation can profoundly affect Ceres' geophysical evolution

2015

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“…Further prominent examples of worlds with possible subsurface water oceans such as the asteroid Ceres [87], the large icy satellites of Jupiter [88-90], Neptune's moon Triton [91] and some large Kuiper belt objects [92] tell us that internal long-lived radionuclide heating via quantum tunnelling is important throughout the solar system.…”

Section: Sub-surface Habitability Geothermal Energy and Quantum Tunnmentioning

confidence: 99%

Quantum Tunnelling to the Origin and Evolution of Life

Trixler

2013

COC

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Quantum tunnelling is a phenomenon which becomes relevant at the nanoscale and below. It is a paradox from the classical point of view as it enables elementary particles and atoms to permeate an energetic barrier without the need for sufficient energy to overcome it. Tunnelling might seem to be an exotic process only important for special physical effects and applications such as the Tunnel Diode, Scanning Tunnelling Microscopy (electron tunnelling) or Near-field Optical Microscopy operating in photon tunnelling mode. However, this review demonstrates that tunnelling can do far more, being of vital importance for life: physical and chemical processes which are crucial in theories about the origin and evolution of life can be traced directly back to the effects of quantum tunnelling. These processes include the chemical evolution in stellar interiors and within the cold interstellar medium, prebiotic chemistry in the atmosphere and subsurface of planetary bodies, planetary habitability via insolation and geothermal heat as well as the function of biomolecular nanomachines. This review shows that quantum tunnelling has many highly important implications to the field of molecular and biological evolution, prebiotic chemistry and astrobiology.

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“…In many thermal models, a large amount of heat is generated directly within the ice shell (Hussmann et al, 2002), but there is always a significant contribution from the silicate interior. Travis et al (2012) suggest that internal radiogenic heating active over Europa's entire history is enough to maintain a liquid layer on its own, but has been supplemented by tidal heating in the past 0.5 billion years.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Numerical simulations of marine hydrothermal plumes for Europa and other icy worlds

Goodman

Lenferink

2012

Icarus

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A whole-moon thermal history model of Europa: Impact of hydrothermal circulation and salt transport

Cited by 62 publications

References 80 publications

Core cracking and hydrothermal circulation can profoundly affect Ceres' geophysical evolution

Core cracking and hydrothermal circulation can profoundly affect Ceres' geophysical evolution

Quantum Tunnelling to the Origin and Evolution of Life

Numerical simulations of marine hydrothermal plumes for Europa and other icy worlds

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