Phantom jets on simulated images made by scientists line up, similar to some features on real Cassini images that show individual jets. The correspondence between the simulation and the data related to the spacecraft suggests that most of the discrete-reactive structure is an illusion.
The satellite of Saturn Enceladus has an underground ocean, which comes to the surface in the form of water through long cracks in the ice crust, but as the planetary scientists are increasingly familiar with the geysers of the satellite, new subtleties of this issue are revealed.
By analyzing the data obtained during the observation of NASA’s Cassini spacecraft orbiting Saturn and during computer simulations, scientists concluded that Enceladus geysers erupting from the polar satellite tiger stripes exist more than it seems at first glance.
“We think that most of the observed activity represents volcanic emissions from the tiger strip cracks rather than intermittent geysers along them,” said Joseph Spiteyl, a scientist who performs the Cassini mission at the Planetary Science Institute in Tucson, Arizona. “Some well-viewed jets are not an illusion, but much of the activity seen from the images can be explained without separate jets.” Simply put, in a new study published on May 7 in the journal Nature, Spiteil's team suggests that Enceladus's individual geysers are an illusion.
Calling this phenomenon a “volcanic veil,” researchers believe that steam is pushed along Enceladus's “tiger stripes,” which are often wavy crevices. When steam is ejected along these undulating stripes, depending on the angle of view of the eruption, you will sometimes look through a bend or 'fold' in the curtain of steam. These folds make the diffused light from the steam seem more intense, creating the illusion that we are seeing a separate geyser.
Volcanic eruptions are observed on Earth in areas of volcanic activity - such as Hawaii, Iceland and the Galapagos Islands. Magma can break out of long cracks, often creating impressive fiery curtains.
“Our understanding of Enceladus continues to evolve, and we arrived waiting for surprises along the way,” said Linda Spilker, project coordinator for Cassini from the NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory, Pasadena, Calif., Who was not involved in the study. “This small ice world is becoming more exciting as we find new details about its underground ocean and amazing geophysical activity.”
