Nitrogen phase transition via ice-greenhouse

Space/Science » in reply to re: So what makes the geysers on Triton?

Nitrogen phase transition via ice-greenhouse

Adam — 3/13/2006 9:36:08 AM (archived)

Hi

Probable cause of the geysers is local hotspot heating via the cryo-greenhouse effect (ice allowing light in and blocking heat out) - this causes any ultra-volatiles like N2 ice to sublimate under pressure and then blow-out any fissure.

Landing on any ice planet with a hot jet could burn through to a highly pressurised pocket of gas...

Adam

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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