Publication Date:
2012-09-27
Description:
The use of lithosphere strength indicators (as for example the effective elastic thickness of the lithosphere or the depth to the brittle-ductile transition) can give clues on the surface heat flow and the thermal state of the ice crust of icy satellites, which in turn has profound implications for the internal evolution, and the possible existence of internal oceans, in these planetary bodies. As shown in this review, this kind of approach has found very high (and possibly recent) surface heat flows for Europa and ancient high heat flows for Ganymede. On the other hand, the heavily cratered of Callisto suggests a cold and inactive outer ice shell throughout the entire history of that body. However, irrespective of the greatly different geology recorded on the surface of the icy Galilean satellites, there is evidence from orbital magnetic observations for internal oceans in all them. By considering heat flow estimates in the context existence of internal oceans, a more complete description of the thermal history of the icy Galilean satellites should emerge. Content Type Journal Article Pages 1-9 DOI 10.1007/s11038-012-9403-1 Authors Javier Ruiz, Departamento de Geodinámica, Facultad de Ciencias Geológicas, Universidad Complutense de Madrid, 28040 Madrid, Spain Journal Earth, Moon, and Planets Online ISSN 1573-0794 Print ISSN 0167-9295
Print ISSN:
0167-9295
Electronic ISSN:
1573-0794
Topics:
Geosciences
,
Physics
