What forces the water out?

Space/Science » in reply to Not for drudge, apparently

What forces the water out?

JimO — 3/9/2006 7:14:44 PM (archived)

Something is nagging at me. What is the source of the pressure
that is pushing the water violantly outwards through these vents?

Water, unlike most other materials, SHRINKS when it melts
and EXPANDS when it freezes -- viz., milk bottles shattered
on the porch of my childhood home in upstate New York.

Geysers are propelled by expanding water as it changes state
from liquid to gas -- STEAM. Then it expands enthusiastically.

On Earth, water melting inside glaciers or permafrost does NOT spew
outwards. Why should it on Enceladus?

Io's volcanoes are sulfer -- when it melts, it expands and creates pressure
to vent outwards. Ditto magma on Earth, I thought.

But water? I'm puzzled by this.

Maybe another liquid, like methane, that behaves more like
sulfur and magma? I just don't know. I'd like to ask.

What am I missing?

The whole thread (57 posts)

RUMOR NASA to make a major life in the solar system announcement today - phil - 3/9/2006 4:30:58 PM
- I think somebody jumped the gun. - Jacob Samorodin - 3/11/2006 12:34:33 AM
- "Prepare to be assimilated. Resistance is futile." Borg propaganda slogan. (n/t) - David F Mayer - 3/10/2006 5:07:49 PM
- re: forget life...What about scooping up the water and using it to create rocket fuel while in orbit of saturn? - Scott Evil - 3/10/2006 2:38:58 PM
  - More engineering trouble than it's worth to do it. - Jacob Samorodin - 3/11/2006 12:36:46 AM
- re: Dr. Nick - opinions on Enceladus? - Vince - 3/10/2006 3:17:40 AM
- So... Do I need a Resident or Non-Resident Fishing License? - DALeffler - 3/10/2006 12:18:43 AM
- Organic material spotted around Enceladus - :) sorry - 3/9/2006 10:55:24 PM
- re: Enceladus size....just for the comparison - Raoul - 3/9/2006 8:28:20 PM
- Embargo ends at 2 PM EST. - JimO - 3/9/2006 4:34:18 PM
  - My commentary is at... - JimO - 3/9/2006 7:35:48 PM
    - Outstanding idea JimO - Buck Galaxy - 3/10/2006 7:18:47 AM
    - I like the suggestion of a Stardust-type mission to Enceladus - pwokenyaw - 3/10/2006 4:26:35 AM
  - My guess is it's related to the high percentage of organic material in Comet Wild (n/t) - Buck Galaxy - 3/9/2006 5:33:32 PM
    - I am guessing Enceladus keep supplies Saturn's rings with icy material. (n/t) - REB - 3/9/2006 6:14:13 PM
      - rLooks like Enceladus is the source for the E-ring. - REB - 3/10/2006 7:49:01 PM
      - re: But how could this have happened since Enceladus was orbiting Saturn, with such a small mass? (n/t) - Raoul - 3/9/2006 10:02:28 PM
        
        Enceladus probably was much larger in the past... - REB - 3/9/2006 10:20:52 PM
        
        re: And remain spherical inspite of its size? (n/t) - Raoul - 3/10/2006 6:36:54 AM
        
        That is the main reason I think Enceladus is basically a large drop of water with an icy crust. - REB - 3/10/2006 1:07:48 PM
        
        Not a small core - Adam - 3/13/2006 9:33:30 PM
    - Looks like that's not it: NASA's Cassini spacecraft may have found evidence of liquid water reservoirs that erupt in Yellowstone-like geysers on Saturn's moon Enceladus. (n/t) - Buck Galaxy - 3/9/2006 5:45:44 PM
      - The outer solar system will be prime real estate for space colonies. - Lee - 3/9/2006 8:06:17 PM
      - NASA's Cassini spacecraft may have found evidence of liquid water - Raoul - 3/9/2006 6:50:40 PM
        
        re: The amazing ENCELADUS!! - Raoul - 3/9/2006 7:09:00 PM
        
        The closest thing to a snowball earth yet? - SteveS - 3/9/2006 7:23:55 PM
  - Not for drudge, apparently - dtb - 3/9/2006 4:55:14 PM
    - What forces the water out? - JimO - 3/9/2006 7:14:44 PM
      - My guess would be tidal forces, like on Io. - alcaray - 3/10/2006 3:47:36 PM
        
        Tidal Force Specifics - phil - 3/11/2006 9:48:20 PM
        
        You are right! - alcaray - 3/13/2006 7:09:07 PM
      - re: What forces the water out? - DALeffler - 3/10/2006 3:38:33 AM
      - re: From NASA - Raoul - 3/9/2006 7:52:12 PM
        
        good model - JimO - 3/10/2006 1:09:14 PM
        
        good model - JimO - 3/10/2006 1:09:11 PM
      - re: What forces the water out? - REB - 3/9/2006 7:32:35 PM
        
        So what makes the geysers on Triton? - ljk - 3/9/2006 8:44:46 PM
        
        re: So what makes the geysers on Triton? - btw, yes it's primarily due to tidal heating. (n/t) - Marcia - 3/11/2006 2:53:42 AM
        
        re: Good times for science. - Marcia - 3/11/2006 2:48:07 AM
        
        priorities - JimO - 3/10/2006 1:14:02 PM
        
        the cost of peace - JimO - 3/10/2006 1:25:51 PM
        
        Thank you, Jim... - ljk - 3/10/2006 7:31:55 PM
        
        So true - Buck Galaxy - 3/12/2006 12:03:25 AM
        
        re: So true, really? - JimO - 3/13/2006 5:04:45 AM
        
        re: So true, really? - Buck Galaxy - 3/13/2006 7:53:38 AM
        
        re: So what makes the geysers on Triton? - phil - 3/9/2006 11:24:10 PM
        
        Nitrogen phase transition via ice-greenhouse - Adam - 3/13/2006 9:36:08 AM
        
        Probably heat and pressure. - REB - 3/9/2006 8:55:41 PM
        
        Errr.... - :) - 3/9/2006 10:16:00 PM
        
        D'oh - REB - 3/9/2006 10:25:09 PM
        
        Next question - ljk - 3/9/2006 9:09:26 PM
        
        Simple molecules I think - Adam - 3/9/2006 9:12:34 PM
    - re: Not for drudge, apparently - ljk - 3/9/2006 6:48:44 PM
      - Enceladus geysers "predicted" in 1981 National Geographic Magazine - ljk - 3/9/2006 11:13:45 PM
        
        re: July 81, pages 30 and 31 "Shining Enceladus" (n/t) - Raoul - 3/10/2006 6:47:50 AM
        
        Online scan of the NGM artwork of Enceladus gushing - ljk - 3/12/2006 3:21:04 AM
        
        re: I scanned exactly the same painting and it's now in the PC... - Raoul - 3/12/2006 8:59:25 AM

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