Robert Lea is a science journalist in the U.K. who specializes in science, space, physics, astronomy, astrophysics, cosmology, quantum mechanics and technology. Rob's articles have been published in Physics World, New Scientist, Astronomy Magazine, All About Space and ZME Science.
New research has revealed the sliding side-by-side motion along distinctive"tiger stripes" on Saturn's moon Enceladus is linked to jets of ice crystals that erupt from its icy shell. The findings could help determine the characteristics of this icy moon of Saturn's subsurface ocean and, thus, if Enceladus is favorable to life.
However, this theory can't explain why the jets of Enceladus peak in brightness hours after tidal stresses are at their maximum or why there is a second smaller peak seen shortly after Enceladus' closest approach to Saturn. A new numerical simulation of Enceladus' tidal stresses and the motion of its tiger stripe fractures identifies a phenomenon similar to that seen at the San Andreas fault, corresponding with the pattern of jet activity.
By submitting your information you agree to the Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy and are aged 16 or over.The San Andreas fault in spaceBerne and colleagues found that frictional mechanics control motion in interfaces along the tiger stripes of Enceladus where both sides of the fractures meet. This means that during Enceladus's orbital cycle, the tiger strips periodically slide and lock. This side-by-side, or"strike-slip," motion lines up with jet activity.
"Prior to conducting the research, we did not expect such a high correlation between modeled strike-slip motion and jet activity." The Caltech researcher added that the team's models suggest that tides play a fundamental role in the evolution of Enceladus and its ocean on multiple timescales. Scientists have suggested that Enceladus, with its buried global ocean, could be a prime target for searching for life elsewhere in the solar system. This research and the team's model could provide extra support for that hypothesis.
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