Modeling of Possible Plume Mechanisms on Europa

Vorburger, Audrey; Wurz, Peter (2021). Modeling of Possible Plume Mechanisms on Europa. Journal of Geophysical Research: Space Physics, 126(9) AGU Publications 10.1029/2021ja029690

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Plumes spewing water high above Europa's surface have been inferred from several observation campaigns in the past decade. Whereas the occasional existence of plumes on Europa has thus been confirmed, the origin of the plumes remains uncertain. Most notably, it is still unclear whether the inferred plumes are of oceanic origin, possibly containing information about the ocean's habitability, or if they are of surficial nature, offering information on the highly processed surface instead. In this study, we use a Monte-Carlo model to analyze three different plume models, two of which are surficial (near-surface liquid inclusion and diapir), and one of which originates in the sub-surface ocean (oceanic plume). We analyze all relevant Lyman-  and OI 1304 A emission mechanisms to determine the three models' emission profiles. These profiles are then compared to the Hubble Space Telescope/Space Telescope Imaging Spectograph measurements presented by Roth, Saur, etal.(2014, https://doi.org/10.1126/science.1247051) with the goal of determining which ab initio model fits these measurements best. Our analyses show that all three models investigated produce similar Lyman-  and OI 130.4nm emission profiles, with differences being perceivable only on scales well below the HST resolution and sensitivity. Since none of the models contradict the Roth, Saur, etal.(2014, https://doi.org/10.1126/science.1247051)observations, none of them can be ruled out as being the acting force behind the observed plumes. The currently available optical measurements are thus not sufficient to determine the physical nature of Europa's plumes, identification of which can only be achieved through higher resolution images or in situ measurements.

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