Tidal Heating and Convection in Icy Moon Oceans

Watch a research lecture exploring how tidal heating influences ocean convection patterns within icy moons of Jupiter and Saturn. Examine numerical simulations demonstrating how spatially heterogeneous tidal heating in Europa's rocky mantle affects rotating thermal convection in its subsurface ocean. Learn how this heating pattern, which is more intense at the poles with longitudinal variations near the equator, can generate thermal winds that significantly alter ocean circulation compared to uniform heating scenarios. Discover how these dynamics suggest that tidal heating patterns in the silicate mantle may influence the structure of the ice crust above, despite the intervening ocean layer. The presentation includes collaborative research findings from scientists at the University of St Andrews, Arizona State University, and the University of Texas at Austin, delivered at IPAM's Rotating Turbulence Workshop.