16 Planetary Science: Insights from Remote Sensing, Field, and the Laboratory

Wednesday, 18 May 2016
1:00 PM - 3:20 PM
Crest Room

WATER-ICE PARTICLES IN ENCELADUS' PLUME: CHARACTERIZING THEIR NEAR INFRARED SPECTRAL DIVERSITY

Paper number: 16-7
Program: Theme Sessions
Time: 3:00 PM – 3:20 PM

Authors

Abstract

Enceladus, Saturn's small icy satellite, is currently exhibiting plume activity and therefore providing direct access to samples from the interior. The plume material, mostly composed of water vapor and ice particles, has been extensively studied using various sensors onboard the NASA-ESA Cassini mission, which is currently orbiting Saturn.

Water-ice has diagnostic absorption signatures in the near infrared region, most notably around 3 microns. Our analysis of the near-infrared spectra of Enceladus' plume has highlighted variations in its spectral properties, which directly represent changes in the character of water-ice particles in the plume, most notably their particle size.

We are currently undertaking a systematic analysis of data from Cassini Visual and Infrared Mapping Spectrometer (VIMS) by considering parameters such as viewing geometry (phase angle effects), Enceladus' orbital position around Saturn and observation time (temporal aspects). This presentation would discuss the observed trends and their implications for evolution of the plume material.

Geological Society of America Abstracts with Programs. Vol. 48, No. 6

doi: 10.1130/abs/2016RM-276150

© Copyright 2016 The Geological Society of America (GSA), all rights reserved. Permission is hereby granted to the author(s) of this abstract to reproduce and distribute it freely, for noncommercial purposes. Permission is hereby granted to any individual scientist to download a single copy of this electronic file and reproduce up to 20 paper copies for noncommercial purposes advancing science and education, including classroom use, providing all reproductions include the complete content shown here, including the author information. All other forms of reproduction and/or transmittal are prohibited without written permission from GSA Copyright Permissions.