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Interior Characterization of Europa using Magnetometry

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The Interior Characterization of Europa using Magnetometry (ICEMAG) is a multi-frequency magnetometer that will be flown on board the Europa Clipper mission to Jupiter's moon Europa. Magnetic induction is a powerful tool for probing the subsurface and determine Europa's ocean depth, salinity, and ice shell thickness, as well as detecting erupting plume activity.

The Principal Investigator is Carol Raymond, at NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory.[1]

Overview

Magnetic induction is a powerful tool for probing the subsurface. ICEMAG will observe the magnetic field near Europa with greatly enhanced sensitivity compared to a similar instrument carried by NASA's Galileo spacecraft, which orbited Jupiter from 1995 to 2003. The magnetic field induced in Europa over many frequencies will reveal the ocean depth and ice shell thickness, especially when combined with the REASON ice penetrating radar data and the PIMS instrument. Knowledge of the ocean properties will help understand Europa's evolution and allows evaluation of processes that have cycled material between the depths and the surface, and will help assess the ocean's potential habitability.[2] ICEMAG will help understand not only what Europa is made of, but also the processes that link the ocean to the surface, and how the system works.[2]

ICEMAG utilizes fluxgate magnetic field sensors[3] as well as helium sensors in an integrated magnetic measurement system.[4] Electromagnetic waves between 10-2 to 1 Hertz could reveal localized mass flow of ions arising from plumes and the atmosphere; that is, localized transient currents indicate plume activity.[1] In general, ICEMAG data will combine synergistically with other data sets to improve knowledge of interior properties and exosphere activity.

Objectives

The objectives of the ICEMAG investigation are: [1]

  • Constrain Europa's thermal evolution and current interior state
  • Identify the source of the Europan atmosphere and processes by which it is lost
  • Understand coupling between Europa and Jupiter's [ionosphere]]s and coupling of plumes to the flowing plasma
  • Determine the location, thickness and salinity of the Europan ocean
  • Locate of any active vents, plumes, and ionized plasma trails, the strength of plumes, and loss rates from the atmosphere
  • Determine the strength of electric currents and plasma coupling Jupiter to Europa

References

  1. ^ a b c ICEMAG - Interior Characterization of Europa Using Magnetometry (PDF). Carol Raymond, et al. August 24, 2015.
  2. ^ a b Europa Mission to Probe Magnetic Field and Chemistry. Preston Dyches, NASA News. May 27, 2015.
  3. ^ Fluxgate Magnetometer. ELFIN, at UCLA.
  4. ^ Interior Characterization of Europa using Magnetometry (ICEMAG): Probing the Europan Ocean and Exosphere. Raymond, C. A.; Jia, X.; Joy, S. P.; Khurana, K. K.; Murphy, N.; Russell, C. T.; Strangeway, R. J.; Weiss, B. P. American Geophysical Union, Fall Meeting 2015, abstract #P13E-08.
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