DSMC simulation of Europa water vapor plumes

Berg, Jared; Goldstein, David; Varghese, Philip L.; Trafton, Laurence M.

doi:10.1016/j.icarus.2016.05.030

Cited by 21 publications

(20 citation statements)

References 26 publications

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“…It is also possible that the plume has a different shape than the conical model applied here. As Berg et al (2016) has shown, using an advanced DSMC model of the neutrals escaping from a vent on Europa's surface, a plume could also have a dome like shape, which could have a different effect on the depletion. Furthermore, multiple collisions and stripping/reionization of ENAs within a very dense plume could also be possible but have not been taken into account.…”

Section: Indications Of An Active Plume During E26mentioning

confidence: 99%

An Active Plume Eruption on Europa During Galileo Flyby E26 as Indicated by Energetic Proton Depletions

Huybrighs

Roussos

Blöcker

et al. 2020

Geophysical Research Letters

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Strong depletions of energetic protons (115-244 keV) were observed during Galileo flyby E26of Europa. We simulate the flux of energetic protons using a Monte Carlo particle backtracing code and show that energetic proton depletions during E26 are reproduced by taking into account the perturbations of the electromagnetic fields calculated by magnetohydrodynamic (MHD) simulations and charge exchange with a global atmosphere and plume. A depletion feature occurring shortly after closest approach is driven by plume associated charge exchange, or a combination with plume associated field perturbations. We therefore conclude, with a new method and independent data set, that Galileo could have encountered a plume during E26. Plain Language SummaryWe investigate why (normally abundant) fast protons were disappearing during Europa flyby E26 by Galileo. We do this by simulating the proton motion. In some cases we detect few protons because Europa is blocking the field of view. What is new here is that part of the decrease can be explained by charge exchange, a process whereby the protons are removed after they lose their electrical charge in Europa's thin atmosphere. Furthermore, we see that there is a special decrease, which can be explained by an erupting plume of water vapor, thereby providing additional evidence for an active plume during Galileo flyby E26.

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Section: Indications Of An Active Plume During E26mentioning

confidence: 99%

An Active Plume Eruption on Europa During Galileo Flyby E26 as Indicated by Energetic Proton Depletions

Huybrighs

Roussos

Blöcker

et al. 2020

Geophysical Research Letters

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“…(2014) and Roth, Saur, et al. (2014) thus most probably present an average of the whole canopy produced by the plume (see Berg et al., 2016), whereas we sample the plume at much higher resolution. If we average our results over the same area as Roth, Retherford, et al.…”

Section: Simulation Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Modeling of Possible Plume Mechanisms on Europa

Vorburger

Würz

2021

JGR Space Physics

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Plumes spewing water high above Europa's surface have been inferred from several observation campaigns in the past decade. Whereas the occasional existence of plumes on Europa has thus been confirmed, the origin of the plumes remains uncertain. Most notably, it is still unclear whether the inferred plumes are of oceanic origin, possibly containing information about the ocean's habitability, or if they are of surficial nature, offering information on the highly processed surface instead. In this study, we use a Monte‐Carlo model to analyze three different plume models, two of which are surficial (near‐surface liquid inclusion and diapir), and one of which originates in the sub‐surface ocean (oceanic plume). We analyze all relevant Lyman‐α and OI 1304 Å emission mechanisms to determine the three models' emission profiles. These profiles are then compared to the Hubble Space Telescope/Space Telescope Imaging Spectograph measurements presented by Roth, Retherford, et al. (2014, https://doi.org/10.1073/pnas.1416671111) and Roth, Saur, et al. (2014, https://doi.org/10.1126/science.1247051) with the goal of determining which ab initio model fits these measurements best. Our analyses show that all three models investigated produce similar Lyman‐α and OI 130.4 nm emission profiles, with differences being perceivable only on scales well below the HST resolution and sensitivity. Since none of the models contradict the Roth, Retherford, et al. (2014, https://doi.org/10.1073/pnas.1416671111) and Roth, Saur, et al. (2014, https://doi.org/10.1126/science.1247051) observations, none of them can be ruled out as being the acting force behind the observed plumes. The currently available optical measurements are thus not sufficient to determine the physical nature of Europa's plumes, identification of which can only be achieved through higher resolution images or in situ measurements.

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“…Future work considering those issues will help us build a more realistic model. It should be noted that the plumes on Europa are intermittent, localized (Roth et al, 2014;Sparks et al, 2016) and models show that they have a specific umbrella-like canopy structure (Berg et al, 2016). Since we focus on the plume-controlled atmosphere, use a constant water column density and look for a stable solution, our model basically describes the atmosphere at the center of the water plume during its stable eruption time and our results rely on the assumption that all the chemical species are horizontally uniformly distributed in the middle part of the plume.…”

Section: Because Omentioning

confidence: 99%

The influence of Europa's plumes on its atmosphere and ionosphere

Gudipati

Yung

2020

Icarus

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Europa, one of the Galilean satellites, has a tenuous, oxygen-dominated atmosphere that is usually referred to as a collision-less exosphere. Coupled to the neutral atmosphere and in contact with Europa's surface, a tenuous ionosphere exists on Europa, whose presence has been revealed by multiple observations. Such an ionosphere is thought to be produced by solar photoionization and electron-impact ionization of the oxygen in the atmosphere. However, a recent study showed that the maximum ionosphere coincides with intermittent water plume on Europa, suggesting that water plays an important role in the formation of the ionosphere. Based on the assumption of horizontal uniformity in the middle of the plume, we use the Caltech/Jet Propulsion Laboratory one-dimensional KINETICS model to construct profiles of neutral and ionized species near the plume region. The simulation results, which show that the ionization reactions are initiated by water electron-impact ionization and photoionization and continued by charge transfer between water and oxygen molecules, have successfully reproduced the observations. We find that H 2 O + is the dominant species only above the ionopause. Below the ionopause, the density of H 2 O + is orders of magnitude lower than the density of O 2 + , which is the major composition below the ionopause. Our model has also been used to study the dissociation processes of water molecules from the plumes, which can be regarded as an alternative source for the oxygen in the atmosphere.

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DSMC simulation of Europa water vapor plumes

Cited by 21 publications

References 26 publications

An Active Plume Eruption on Europa During Galileo Flyby E26 as Indicated by Energetic Proton Depletions

An Active Plume Eruption on Europa During Galileo Flyby E26 as Indicated by Energetic Proton Depletions

Modeling of Possible Plume Mechanisms on Europa

The influence of Europa's plumes on its atmosphere and ionosphere

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