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The Physical Oceanography of Ice-Covered Moons
Krista M Soderlund1, Marc Rovira-Navarro2, Michael Le Bars3
1Institute for Geophysics, Jackson School of Geosciences, University of Texas at Austin, Austin, Texas, USA;
Annual Review of Marine Science
|September 5, 2023
Summary
Giant icy moons in the outer solar system harbor subsurface oceans. Researchers are exploring unique oceanographic processes, like tidal forces and electromagnetic pumping, that drive these alien seas and impact habitability.
Area of Science:
- Planetary Science
- Oceanography
- Astrobiology
Background:
- Numerous icy moons in the outer solar system possess subsurface global oceans.
- These extraterrestrial oceans present unique environments for studying physical oceanography.
- They challenge Earth-centric assumptions about oceanic processes.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review oceanographic driving mechanisms on icy moons.
- To explore how these mechanisms differ from Earth's oceans.
- To assess the implications for ice-ocean interactions and habitability.
Main Methods:
- Review of existing literature on planetary oceanography.
- Analysis of physical oceanographic processes relevant to icy moons.
- Comparison of Earth's ocean dynamics with those of outer solar system moons.
Main Results:
- Identified common mechanisms like buoyancy-driven flows and tides.
- Highlighted unique mechanisms significant for moons: libration, precession, and electromagnetic pumping.
- Established the importance of these processes for ice-ocean interactions.
Conclusions:
- Understanding these unique mechanisms is crucial for studying icy moon oceans.
- The interplay of these forces has significant implications for habitability.
- Future missions should investigate these processes to test oceanic hypotheses.
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