A study by Western astronomers and geologists has shown that earthquakes can fill the surfaces of the moons orbiting the gas giants Jupiter and Saturn. RT.
Steep ridges surrounded by relatively flat areas are a common phenomenon for Jupiter’s moons Europa and Ganymede, as well as Saturn’s moon Enceladus. Although the researchers hypothesized that heavy outflows from volcanic ice lead to this, how this process occurs under low-temperature conditions on these cold celestial bodies is not well understood..
The new explanation put forward by scientists does not require the presence of liquid on the surface of icy moons. Scientists have long known that some of the moons orbiting Jupiter and Saturn are geologically active. Gravity causes moonquakes, which loosen the crust and icy surfaces of the moon.
Earthquakes on the moon can also cause landslides, which helps create flat surfaces. Some earthquakes have been strong enough to send debris rolling down slopes and flattening the ground..
The study authors said: “We found that the surface vibrations caused by the tremors are sufficient to cause the surface to slip. This helps us understand how landslides can shape the surface of the moon over time.”“.
Finding the strength of volcanic activity and seismic activity on Enceladus was surprising, as the satellite’s surface area is less than 3% that of Europa, and about 1,650 times the surface area of Earth. But because of its low gravity, earthquakes on Enceladus can be strong enough to throw icy debris from the surface straight into space.
