Abstract
Voyager images1 of the uranian satellites show a diversity of geological features, including clear evidence for the ‘softening’ and mobilization of ice on Miranda and Ariel. Some of these features are similar to those seen on jovian and saturnian satellites, where the mobile material is believed to be water or a water–ammonia mixture. However, the extremely low temperatures and probable unavailability of large energy sources within the uranian satellites lead us to consider flow mechanisms that operate at very low temperature (T ≤ 100 K). We propose here a form of pressure-solution creep, in which very fine-grained water ice or clathrate hydrate is mobilized by a small amount of intergranular cryogenic fluid (CH4, CO or N2). Viscosities as low as 1012 P are possible for a limited time, sufficient to allow flooding of rift valleys and perhaps even substantial lateral flows (glaciers).
This is a preview of subscription content, access via your institution
Access options
Subscribe to this journal
Receive 51 print issues and online access
$199.00 per year
only $3.90 per issue
Buy this article
- Purchase on Springer Link
- Instant access to full article PDF
Prices may be subject to local taxes which are calculated during checkout
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Smith, B. A. et al. Science 233, 43–64 (1986).
Stevenson, D. J. in Uranus and Neptune (ed. Bergstralh, J. T.) 405–423 (NASA Conf. Publ. No. 2330, 1984).
Lunine, J. I. & Stevenson, D. J. Astrophys. J. Suppl. Ser. 58, 493–531 (1985).
Fyfe, W. S., Turner, F. J. & Verhoogen, J. Mem. geol. Soc. Am. No. 73 (1958).
Rutter, E. H. Phil. Trans. R. Soc. A283, 203–219 (1976).
Durney, D. W. Phil. Trans. R. Soc. A283, 229–240 (1976).
Pharr, G. M. & Ashby, M. F. Acta metall. 31, 129–138 (1983).
Turcotte, D. L. & Schubert, G. Geodynamics, 335 (Wiley, New York, 1982).
Rebiai, R., Rest, A. J. & Scurlock, R. G. Nature 305, 412–413 (1983).
Siever, R. J. Geol. 70, 127–150 (1962).
Eisenberg, D. & Kauzmann, W. The Structure and Properties of Water, 99–175 (Oxford University Press, 1969).
Vegard, L. Z. Phys. 61, 185–190 (1930).
Rudenko, N. W. & Schubikow, L. W. Phys. Z. SowjUn. 6, 470 (1934).
Longuet-Higgins, H. C. & Pople, J. A. J. chem. Phys. 25, 884 (1956).
Draine, B. T. in Protostars and Planets II (eds Black, D. C. & Matthews, M. A.) 621–640 (University of Arizona Press, Tucson, 1985).
Ney, E. P. in Comets (ed. Wilkening, L. L.) 323–340 (University of Arizona Press, Tucson, 1982).
Brownlee, D. E. in Protostars and Planets (ed. Gehrels, T.) 134–150 (University of Arizona Press, Tucson, 1978).
Van Kasteren, P. H. G. Bull. Inst. int. Froid. Annexe 4, 81–87 (1973).
Weyl, W. A. in Rheology: Theory and Applications Vol. 3 (ed. Eirich, F. R.) 299–340 (Academic, New York, 1960).
Hobbs, P. V. Ice Physics Ch. 4 (Clarendon, Oxford, 1974).
Stevenson, D. J. Nature 298, 142–144 (1982).
McKinnon, W. B. & Meadows, M. Bull. Am astr. Soc. 16, 686 (1984).
Friedson, A. J. & Stevenson, D. J. Icarus 56, 1–14 (1983).
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Stevenson, D., Lunine, J. Mobilization of cryogenic ice in outer Solar System satellites. Nature 323, 46–48 (1986). https://doi.org/10.1038/323046a0
Received:
Accepted:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/323046a0
This article is cited by
-
Odd tectonics of a rebuilt moon
Nature (1988)
Comments
By submitting a comment you agree to abide by our Terms and Community Guidelines. If you find something abusive or that does not comply with our terms or guidelines please flag it as inappropriate.
