Radar Attenuation for Subsurface Sounding on Enceladus: Effects of a Porous Ice Layer
The presence of a global ocean, the water-rock interface at the base of the ocean, and the inferred ocean composition derived from sampling the active plume at the south pole of Enceladus, make Saturn’s moon a promising location for habitable conditions in the Solar System. Due to its thin (<35 k...
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2024
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Online Access: | http://dx.doi.org/10.22541/au.171386353.34274580/v1 |
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crwinnower:10.22541/au.171386353.34274580/v1 2024-06-02T08:14:34+00:00 Radar Attenuation for Subsurface Sounding on Enceladus: Effects of a Porous Ice Layer Byrne, William Paul Plesa, Ana-Catalina Rückriemen, Tina Hussmann, Hauke Benedikter, Andreas 2024 http://dx.doi.org/10.22541/au.171386353.34274580/v1 unknown Authorea, Inc. posted-content 2024 crwinnower https://doi.org/10.22541/au.171386353.34274580/v1 2024-05-07T14:19:29Z The presence of a global ocean, the water-rock interface at the base of the ocean, and the inferred ocean composition derived from sampling the active plume at the south pole of Enceladus, make Saturn’s moon a promising location for habitable conditions in the Solar System. Due to its thin (<35 km) and cold ice shell, Enceladus is expected to exhibit favourable conditions for direct detection of the ice-ocean interface using low-frequency radar sounder instruments. Here we investigate the two-way radar attenuation in the Enceladus ice shell, focusing on the effect of a porous icy layer generated by Enceladus’ jet activity. Our results show that as little as 2% of the ice shell can be penetrated in regions covered by thick and strongly insulating porous layers. However, the high subsurface temperatures in these regions could promote the formation of brines at shallow depth that can be detected by future radar measurements. Other/Unknown Material South pole The Winnower South Pole |
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description |
The presence of a global ocean, the water-rock interface at the base of the ocean, and the inferred ocean composition derived from sampling the active plume at the south pole of Enceladus, make Saturn’s moon a promising location for habitable conditions in the Solar System. Due to its thin (<35 km) and cold ice shell, Enceladus is expected to exhibit favourable conditions for direct detection of the ice-ocean interface using low-frequency radar sounder instruments. Here we investigate the two-way radar attenuation in the Enceladus ice shell, focusing on the effect of a porous icy layer generated by Enceladus’ jet activity. Our results show that as little as 2% of the ice shell can be penetrated in regions covered by thick and strongly insulating porous layers. However, the high subsurface temperatures in these regions could promote the formation of brines at shallow depth that can be detected by future radar measurements. |
format |
Other/Unknown Material |
author |
Byrne, William Paul Plesa, Ana-Catalina Rückriemen, Tina Hussmann, Hauke Benedikter, Andreas |
spellingShingle |
Byrne, William Paul Plesa, Ana-Catalina Rückriemen, Tina Hussmann, Hauke Benedikter, Andreas Radar Attenuation for Subsurface Sounding on Enceladus: Effects of a Porous Ice Layer |
author_facet |
Byrne, William Paul Plesa, Ana-Catalina Rückriemen, Tina Hussmann, Hauke Benedikter, Andreas |
author_sort |
Byrne, William Paul |
title |
Radar Attenuation for Subsurface Sounding on Enceladus: Effects of a Porous Ice Layer |
title_short |
Radar Attenuation for Subsurface Sounding on Enceladus: Effects of a Porous Ice Layer |
title_full |
Radar Attenuation for Subsurface Sounding on Enceladus: Effects of a Porous Ice Layer |
title_fullStr |
Radar Attenuation for Subsurface Sounding on Enceladus: Effects of a Porous Ice Layer |
title_full_unstemmed |
Radar Attenuation for Subsurface Sounding on Enceladus: Effects of a Porous Ice Layer |
title_sort |
radar attenuation for subsurface sounding on enceladus: effects of a porous ice layer |
publisher |
Authorea, Inc. |
publishDate |
2024 |
url |
http://dx.doi.org/10.22541/au.171386353.34274580/v1 |
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South Pole |
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South Pole |
genre |
South pole |
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South pole |
op_doi |
https://doi.org/10.22541/au.171386353.34274580/v1 |
_version_ |
1800738474474602496 |