A Clathrate Reservoir Hypothesis for Enceladus' South Polar Plume

Kieffer, S. W.; Lu, Xinli; Bethke, Craig M.; Spencer, J. R.; Marshak, Stephen; Navrotsky, Alexandra

doi:10.1126/science.1133519

Cited by 159 publications

(116 citation statements)

References 16 publications

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“…Models of the plumes suggest the existence of liquid water as close as 7 m to the surface (Porco et al, 2006). An alternate model has the water originate in a clathrate reservoir (Kieffer et al, 2006). Both models require substantial energy input to drive the plumes.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Tidal heating in Enceladus

Meyer

Wisdom

2007

Icarus

159

155

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Tidal heating in Enceladus

Meyer

Wisdom

2007

Icarus

159

155

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“…The same cannot be said of the ice shell. Although we expect salts (as brine) to be rejected from a freezing icy layer, Kieffer et al [2006] have pointed out the possible critical importance of clathrate hydrates as a source of Enceladus' plume gases. After H 2 O, the dominant plume gas is CO 2 [Waite et al, 2009] , and from equation (2) all but eliminating the ice shell beneath the basins.…”

Section: à2mentioning

confidence: 99%

One‐hundred‐km‐scale basins on Enceladus: Evidence for an active ice shell

Schenk

McKinnon²

2009

Geophysical Research Letters

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Stereo‐derived topographic mapping of ∼50% of Enceladus reveals at least 6 large‐scale, ovoid depressions (basins) 90–175 km across and 800‐to‐1500 m deep and uncorrelated with geologic boundaries. In contrast, the south polar depression is larger and apparently shallower and correlates with active resurfacing. The shape and scale of the basins is inconsistent with impact, geoid surface deflections, or with dynamically supported topography. Isostatic thinning of Enceladus' ice shell associated with upwellings (and tidally‐driven ice melting) can plausibly account for these basins. Thinning implies upwarping of the base of the shell of ∼10–20 km beneath the depressions, depending on total shell thickness; loss of near‐surface porosity due to enhanced heat flow may also contribute to basin lows. Alternatively, the basins may overly cold, inactive, and hence denser ice, but thermal isostasy alone requires thermal expansion more consistent with clathrate hydrate than water ice.

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“…However, the abundance of particles in the south polar plume favors the cold geyser model, as opposed to ice sublimation (Porco et al 2006). Alternatively, Kieffer et al (2006) suggest that the plumes originate from clathrate hydrates; where carbon dioxide, methane, and nitrogen are released when exposed to the vacuum of space by the active, tiger stripe fractures. This hypothesis would not require the amount of heat needed to melt water ice as required by the cold geyser model, and would explain the lack of ammonia.…”

Section: Source Mechanismsmentioning

confidence: 98%

A cometary perspective of Enceladus

Boice¹,

Goldstein²

2009

Proc. IAU

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Abstract. Icy plumes venting from Enceladus draw obvious comparisons to such features seen in comets. This paper outlines a consistent evolution from cometary activity to larger icy bodies in the outer solar system. The major differences are due to the systematic effects of increased gravity, including more spherical solid bodies (self-gravity), less porosity, the possible existence of liquid water due to internal sources of heat (Enceladus) versus possible cometary cyrovolcanism, internal inhomogeneities leading to jet-like features, and the possibility of a quasi-bound dusty gas atmosphere, as opposed to the extensive exospheres of comets. Similarities exist also, including gas and dust emission and the filamentary nature of jet-like features (caused by surface topography in comets), surface evolution by dust accumulation, heat and gas transport through the surface layers, among others. Initial results regarding the plume chemistry and comparisons to CAPS ion data show similarities too. Others have considered additional effects such as, charging of particles, micrometeorite impacts and complex interactions with the E-ring neutrals and plasma in great detail so these topics remain outside the scope of this paper.

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A Clathrate Reservoir Hypothesis for Enceladus' South Polar Plume

Cited by 159 publications

References 16 publications

Tidal heating in Enceladus

Tidal heating in Enceladus

One‐hundred‐km‐scale basins on Enceladus: Evidence for an active ice shell

A cometary perspective of Enceladus

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