Tidally-induced magmatic pulses on the oceanic floor of Jupiter's moon Europa

Abstract:

The habitability of Europa's subsurface ocean is conditioned by the heat released from the deep interior to the seafloor, and hence by the intensity of magmatic activity. Similarly to the volcanic moon, Io, tidal energy dissipated in its interior is expected to influence its thermal state. However, the extent to which Europa's tides cause magmatic activity has not been well understood. Here, we investigate the melting of the silicate mantle through time and the consequences for seafloor magmatism by modeling Europa's internal heat production and transfer using a three-dimensional numerical model. We show that significant amounts of silicate melt can be produced during most of Europa's history due to the limited efficiency of internal cooling by thermal convection and the presence of radiogenic heating. The melting rate is further amplified by tidal friction, possibly leading to magmatic pulses during periods of enhanced eccentricity. The volumes of melt generated during magmatic episodes are comparable to those involved in Large Igneous Provinces commonly observed on Earth. Tidal dissipation also focuses the magmatic activity at high latitudes, the signatures of which may be revealed by future exploration missions.