Enceladus' tiger stripes associated with moon's spectacular geysers eruption
Rewritten Article:
Enceladus, the moon with a watery underbelly, might be spewing icy plumes due to its tiger stripes jostling on the frozen crust, according to a recent study. These long, linear fractures located near the south pole of the moon were once thought to be a result of an ancient impact event, but new theories suggest otherwise.
The researchers took a closer look at the tiger stripes' motion, using a computer model to uncover new details about the moon's jet activity. Published in Nature Geoscience this week, the findings suggest that the sideways (strike-slip) movement along the tiger stripes contributes to Enceladus' occasional spurts.
Enceladus is a fascinating object for scientists because it likely hides a salty ocean beneath its icy shell—a key ingredient for life. Researchers can catch glimpses of this hidden ocean through the icy plumes ejected from the moon. Last year, signs of phosphorus, a life building block, were found in the plumes, and just a few months ago, the Cassini spacecraft confirmed evidence of hydrogen cyanide in the plumes, another essential life component.
Some theories suggested that the tiger-stripe faults open and close, allowing varying amounts of material to escape the moon. However, a new study by Caltech researchers challenges this idea, as it takes more energy than expected for a tidal pull on Enceladus to open and close these faults. Instead, the team proposes that the plume's strength may vary in intensity due to "strike-slip" motion, in which the faults shear past one another, creating gaps (or "pull-aparts") through which the jets can escape.
"By applying methods used for imaging fault slip on Earth, we can better understand the transport of material from the ocean to the surface, the thickness of the ice crust, and the long-term conditions enabling life on Enceladus," said Alexander Berne, the study's lead author, in an institute release. Enceladus has been touted as one of the most promising candidates for a life-hosting body in our solar system—besides Earth, of course. As we continue to study Enceladus, we get closer to understanding what life might look like on this intriguing moon.
For more, read about a recent experiment showing how microbes could thrive on Saturn's moon Enceladus.
(Enrichment data: The strike-slip motion along the tiger stripes generates mechanical stress in the ice crust, potentially creating pathways for fluid movement beneath the surface. This pressure increase can lead to the eruption of icy plumes from Enceladus' subsurface ocean. Additionally, the movement of ice along the tiger stripes generates heat, contributing to the melting of ice and the maintenance of a liquid water reservoir beneath the surface. These conditions are crucial for the generation of Enceladus' plumes due to the fluid movement and heat generated. )
- The tiger stripes on Enceladus, generating mechanical stress through strike-slip motion, might create pathways for fluid movement beneath the moon's icy crust.
- The future of astrobiological research could potentially uncover signs of life on Enceladus, a moon known for its icy plumes and hidden salty ocean.
- Scientists continue to study the moon Enceladus to better understand the long-term conditions that enable life, such as the pressure increase leading to icy plume eruptions and the heat contributed by the movement of ice along the tiger stripes.
- The radar imaging of Enceladus' tiger stripes can provide insights into the transport of material from the moon's subsurface ocean to the surface, the thickness of the ice crust, and the potential signs of life within this intriguing celestial body.
