Saturn's moon Enceladus is the planet's very own winter wonderland of some sort. However, recent research reveals that the moon could be in the middle of relative dryness. This is based on recent measurements regarding the moon's snowdrift thickness.
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Thick Snow Drifts Surround Enceladus
Science Alert reports how computations grounded on tectonic pit chain sizes propose that the ice deposits that drop out of the polar geysers may be around 700 meters deep in certain areas. This is a phenomenon that existing eruptions are incapable of accounting for.
Findings were included in the Icarus publication. The research indicates that the frozen moon was potentially quite active in the past.
Though Enceladus has a mere diameter of 500 kilometers, it is a gem that shines through the icy crown of Saturn. Other than being engulfed by a reflective ice shell, Enceladus also has a liquid, deep, and salty ocean that can be delved into as part of life detection pursuits.
Science News reports how planetary specialists have been intrigued by the geysers of Enceladus. These geysers consist of water vapor and other different ingredients. They were first sighted by the Cassini spacecraft way back in 2005. Its spray may come from the ocean situated underneath the ice structure.
Some of the water builds up to become one of the rings of Saturn. However, the majority falls onto the lunar surface in the form of snow. Knowing the snow's properties, including its compactness, density, and thickness, may enable specialists to know more about the history of the moon. This could then be the foundation for future lunar missions.
The scientists utilized the shots taken by the Cassini spacecraft. Upon analyzing the images, the researchers discovered how the thickness of the snow is different depending on the surface of the moon. Science News notes how its depth is worth hundreds of meters in the majority of its places. However, the thickest area is 700 meters deep.
How Did the Snow Accumulate?
Emily Martin, research physical scientist and study first author, expresses how it is hard to picture how all this snow arrived on the surface. If the spray of the plume had always been the same as it is today, it would take 4.5 billion years to accumulate such a quantity. Moreover, in such a case, the snow should have been quite fluffy.
Martin notes the unlikeliness of plume switches. Even if such switches did happen, later snow layers should have compressed over the ones that fell earlier. This should have made it deeper than it currently is.
Rather than taking up 4.5 billion years, Martin notes how the plumes could have heightened activity in the past. It is vital to perform much within a shorter span as it is necessary to crank up the plume volume.
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