Rotating Convection in Ocean Worlds of the Outer Solar System

Explore ocean dynamics in outer solar system moons through this 48-minute lecture from the University of Texas at Austin's Krista Soderlund at IPAM's Rotating Turbulence Workshop. Dive into theoretical arguments and numerical simulations revealing how rotating convection influences subsurface oceans beneath icy shells of satellites like Enceladus, Titan, Europa, and Ganymede. Learn how strong ocean currents redistribute heat unevenly, creating latitude-dependent variations that impact ice shell structure. Examine evolving models that incorporate realistic processes including tidal dissipation patterns, heterogeneous heating, varying ice shell thickness, and horizontal convection dynamics. Understand how ocean currents may shape seafloor topography through erosion and material redistribution over geological timescales. Gain insights into how these predictive models will help interpret upcoming data from Europa Clipper and JUICE missions while assessing the habitability potential of these fascinating ocean worlds.