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Dione's Wispy Terrain: A Cryovolcanic Story?
Cristina M Dalle Ore1,2, Christopher J Long3, Fiona Nichols-Fleming4
1SETI Institute, 183 Bernardo Avenue, Ste 200, Mountain View, CA 94043, USA.
The Planetary Science Journal
|January 10, 2022
Summary
Researchers studied water ice on Saturn's moon Dione to find evidence of cryovolcanic activity. The crystalline ice suggests recent geological activity, supporting the idea of a subsurface ocean.
Area of Science:
- Planetary Science
- Astrobiology
- Geophysics
Background:
- Dione, a moon of Saturn, is investigated for potential cryovolcanic activity.
- Subsurface liquid water on icy moons is a key target in the search for extraterrestrial life.
- Previous studies have not conclusively identified cryovolcanic signatures on Dione.
Purpose of the Study:
- To assess the potential for cryovolcanic activity on Dione by analyzing its surface water ice.
- To determine if Dione harbors a subsurface body of water.
- To estimate the recent geological activity of Dione.
Main Methods:
- Analysis of the H₂O ice phase (amorphous vs. crystalline) on Dione's surface.
- Utilizing data from the Cassini Visible and Infrared Mapping Spectrometer.
- Mapping the fraction of amorphous to crystalline H₂O ice to determine ice exposure age.
Main Results:
- A region on Dione, specifically a fault in the Wispy Terrain, was found to be fully crystalline.
- This high crystallinity indicates a young surface age, estimated to be less than 152 million years.
- The fault has been active within the last ~100 million years.
Conclusions:
- The recent activity of the fault supports the hypothesis that Dione may still be geologically active.
- Dione could potentially harbor a subsurface liquid water body, similar to Enceladus.
- The findings enhance the astrobiological potential of Dione.
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