Europa seafloor spreading, mantle convection
cc to: Robert Pearlman Larry Klaes [EMAIL PROTECTED] To: Dr Greg Hoppa, corresponding author, Science paper Re: Science Vol 285, 17 September 1999, p. 1899-1902 Dear Greg and colleagues, I am an Australian biologist interested in collaborating with LPL/NASA concerning the probable location of the Europan equivalent of mid-ocean ridges, that will be sought by the IcePIC mission to Europa. Australia already has a long history of collaboration with NASA, via the Honeysuckle Creek and Tidbinbilla Space Tracking Stations near Canberra. I am Canberra-raised and I now work in Sydney at the University of Sydney Department of Microbiology. Part of my background is in Physics, though I am now a molecular biologist. I am writing to you out of my interest in exobiology and extremophiles. However, what I am proposing is that I might initiate correspondence with physiscists concerning a unifying theory of mantle convection that holds true on any rotating planet or moon. This theory (or more correctly hypothesis) relies on tomographic data from Earth and photographic data from Tethys (Ithaca Chasma). As yet it is unpublished but I would be interested in having your scientists properly evealuate the calculations and principles involved, perhaps leading to publication in a journal that takes theoretical papers. The reason this may be of interest to you Greg is that the hypothesis predicts a pole-to-pole volcanic ridge, analogous to the mid atlantic. A current melt shadow of this ridge may be what is shown in your Europa photographs specifically that near the south pole as discussed in your article; Science Vol 285, 17 September 1999, p. 1899-1902. The other cycloid ridges and cycloid chasms would be old melt shadows of the same ridge. These old ridges would have moved after their formation, as the spherical ice shell of the moon rotates and yaws randomly. This idea would not need to conflict with the tidal theory of these cracks as I have read them on the website: http://www.space.com/scienceastronomy/solarsystem/europa-crack_form916.html rather, it may give a reason why the tidal cracks appear perpendicular to the poles. The warming of the subsurface ocean may also be a factor, perhaps even obscuring the bihemispheric lateral mantle convection (BLMC) pattern that the hypothesis proposes. This would be unfortunate for my chances in forming a collaboration because there will be no reason for you to entertain the unifying theory unless you can physically see some long chasm along a line of longitude on Europa. Having stated all this, what I am proposing is to test the Earth/Tethys unifying hypothesis by using Europa as the test case. The theory only holds on planets and moons that have a convecting mantle. A way to test the hypothesis would be to have IcePIC aim at this possible sea floor spreading ridge. Clearly it will be aiming anyway at such a site, and this should happen only after taking into account all of the possible locations of this ridge. My reason for writing therefore is that the BLMC unifying theory predicts only one ridge which therefore can only be landed on (using IcePIC or similar) by design rather than luck. The volcanic ridge is predicted to traverse from pole to pole on one side of the planet. There is also predicted a matching chasm, which will lie on the opposite line of longitude, this is where the sea floor material subducts. On Earth this phenomenon is clear in tomographic data. On the Earth's surface the pattern is partially obscured by the large size of the aggregated continental material which overlies some of the larger features and is resistant to subduction. The important point in this discussion is that all parties should be heard (even if not taken seriously) because the goal of finding life on another body in our solar system is too important a scientific venture to exclude valid contributors. We wouldn't want to miss out on finding the potential life on Europa after travelling all that way would we? I am not assertive about the validity of the unifying theory, but I ask that some space geophysicists give it the benefit of the doubt for long enough to assess the mathematical validiy of the calculations (simple Newtonian equations of viscosity versus convective force, Earth model). The boundary conditions are that liquids are incompressible and that the planet rotates. I hope you enjoyed our Olympics, and that you have had a happy Easter break. I look forward to any reply that any of you may give. I have also subscribed just now to europa@klx, and I look forward to taking part in any discussion that this email may generate. I am also curious to participate in general in any other discussions concerning the IcePIC mission which is one of the most adventurous and inspired missions of human exploration ever conco
Europa seafloor spreading, mantle convection
cc to: B. Randall Tufts, LPL Richard Greenberg, LPL Paul E. Geissler, LPL, Robert Pearlman Larry Klaes [EMAIL PROTECTED] To: Dr Gregory V. Hoppa, LPL, corresponding author, Science paper Re: Science Vol 285, 17 September 1999, p. 1899-1902: Formation of Cycloidal Features on Europa. Dear Greg and colleagues, I am an Australian microbiologist interested in collaborating with LPL/NASA concerning the probable location of the Europan equivalent of mid-ocean ridges(and potential associated life forms), that will be sought by the IcePIC mission to Europa. PLease forgive my emailing to you gentleman and please opass on to potentially interested scientists if this correspondence has been inappropriately directed by me. Australian scientists already have a long history of collaboration with NASA, via the Honeysuckle Creek and Tidbinbilla Space Tracking Stations near Canberra, also briefly via the radio telescope at Parkes NSW, and more recently by the involvement of an Australian Astronaut on the Space Shuttle. There may also be many other connections of which I am not aware. I am Canberra-raised and I now work in Sydney at the University of Sydney Department of Microbiology. Part of my background is in Physics, though I am now a molecular biologist. I am writing to you out of my interest in exobiology and extremophiles. However, what I am proposing is that I might initiate correspondence with physicists concerning a unifying theory of mantle convection that holds true on any rotating planet or moon. This theory (or more correctly hypothesis) relies on tomographic data from Earth and photographic data from Tethys (Ithaca Chasma). As yet it is unpublished but I would be interested in having your scientists properly evaluate the calculations and principles involved, perhaps leading to publication in a journal that takes theoretical papers. The reason this may be of interest to you is that the hypothesis predicts a pole-to-pole volcanic ridge, analogous to the mid atlantic. A current melt shadow of this ridge may be what is shown in your Europa photographs specifically that near the south pole as discussed in your article; Science Vol 285, 17 September 1999, p. 1899-1902. The other cycloid ridges and cycloid chasms would be old melt shadows of the same ridge. These old ridges would have moved after their formation, as the spherical ice shell of the moon rotates and yaws randomly. This idea would not need to conflict with the tidal theory of these cracks as I have read them on the website: http://www.space.com/scienceastronomy/solarsystem/europa-crack_form916.html rather, it may give a reason why the tidal cracks appear perpendicular to the poles. The volcanic ridge is predicted to traverse from pole to pole on one side of the planet. There is also predicted a matching chasm, which will lie on the opposite line of longitude, this is where the sea floor material subducts. On Earth this phenomenon is clear in tomographic data. On the Earth's surface the pattern is partially obscured by the large size of the aggregated continental material which overlies some of the larger features and is resistant to subduction. The warming of the subsurface ocean may also be a factor in positioning the cycloidal features, and this coould perhaps obscuring the lateral bihemispheric mantle convection (BLMC) pattern that the hypothesis proposes. That would be unfortunate for my chances in forming a collaboration because there will be no reason for you to entertain the unifying theory unless you can physically see some long chasm along a line of longitude on Europa. Having stated all this, what I am proposing is to test the Earth/Tethys unifying hypothesis by using Europa as the test case. The theory only holds on planets and moons that have a convecting mantle. A way to test the hypothesis would be to have IcePIC aim at this possible sea floor spreading ridge. Clearly it will be aiming anyway at such a site, and this should happen only after taking into account all of the possible locations of this ridge. My reason for writing therefore is that, if correct, the BLMC unifying theory predicts only one ridge which therefore can only be landed on (using IcePIC or similar) by design rather than luck. The important point in this discussion is that all parties should be heard (even if not taken seriously) because the goal of finding life on another body in our solar system is too important a scientific venture to exclude valid contributors. We wouldn't want to miss out on finding the potential life on Europa after travelling all that way would we? I am not assertive about the validity of the unifying theory, but I ask that some space geophysicists gi
Re: Europa seafloor spreading, mantle convection
Hi Bob, As just a layman's opinion, it seems like one way to find evidence for a convective, mid-ocean spreading zone is to determine the age of the surface ice (youngest ice would be closest to the spreading zone). I would think the age of surface ice could be roughly estimated, since radiation sputtering would alter it's composition over long periods of time. Is this test not possible because the spreading zone might be moving relative to the surface? Could evidence be found to locate the subduction zones as well? Happy Easter! Tom == You are subscribed to the Europa Icepick mailing list: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Project information and list (un)subscribe info: http://klx.com/europa/
Re: Europa seafloor spreading, mantle convection
-Original Message- From: Ro&Ro <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To: [EMAIL PROTECTED] <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>; [EMAIL PROTECTED] <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>; [EMAIL PROTECTED] <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>; [EMAIL PROTECTED] <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>; [EMAIL PROTECTED] <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>; [EMAIL PROTECTED] <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>; [EMAIL PROTECTED] <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Date: Thursday, April 19, 2001 5:13 AM Subject: Europa seafloor spreading, mantle convection > > >cc to: > B. Randall Tufts, LPL > Richard Greenberg, LPL > Paul E. Geissler, LPL, >Robert Pearlman >Larry Klaes >[EMAIL PROTECTED] > >To: Dr Gregory V. Hoppa, LPL, corresponding author, Science paper >Re: Science Vol 285, 17 September 1999, p. 1899-1902: Formation of >Cycloidal Features on Europa. > >Dear Greg and colleagues, > >I am an Australian microbiologist interested in collaborating with >LPL/NASA >concerning the probable location of the Europan equivalent of mid-ocean >ridges(and potential associated life forms), that will be sought by the >IcePIC mission to Europa. PLease forgive my emailing to you gentleman >and please opass on to potentially interested scientists if this >correspondence has been inappropriately directed by me. > >Australian scientists already have a long history of collaboration with >NASA, via the Honeysuckle Creek and Tidbinbilla Space Tracking Stations >near Canberra, also briefly via the radio telescope at Parkes NSW, and >more recently by the involvement of an Australian Astronaut on the Space >Shuttle. There may also be many other connections of which I am not >aware. > >I am Canberra-raised and I now work in Sydney at the University of >Sydney Department of Microbiology. > >Part of my background is in Physics, though I am now a molecular >biologist. > >I am writing to you out of my interest in exobiology and extremophiles. >However, what I am proposing is that I might initiate correspondence >with physicists concerning a unifying theory of mantle convection that >holds true on any rotating planet or moon. This theory (or more >correctly hypothesis) relies on tomographic data from Earth and >photographic data from Tethys (Ithaca Chasma). > >As yet it is unpublished but I would be interested in having your >scientists properly evaluate the calculations and principles involved, >perhaps leading to publication in a journal that takes theoretical >papers. > >The reason this may be of interest to you is that the hypothesis >predicts a pole-to-pole volcanic ridge, analogous to the mid atlantic. A >current melt shadow of this ridge may be what is shown in your Europa >photographs specifically that near the south pole as discussed in your >article; >Science Vol 285, 17 September 1999, p. 1899-1902. >The other cycloid ridges and cycloid chasms would be old melt shadows of >the same ridge. These old ridges would have moved after their formation, >as the spherical ice shell of the moon rotates and yaws randomly. > >This idea would not need to conflict with the tidal theory of these >cracks as I have read them on the website: >http://www.space.com/scienceastronomy/solarsystem/europa-crack_form916.html >rather, it may give a reason why the tidal cracks appear perpendicular >to the poles. > >The volcanic ridge is predicted to traverse from pole to pole on one >side of the planet. There is also predicted a matching chasm, which will >lie on the opposite line of longitude, this is where the sea floor >material subducts. On Earth this phenomenon is clear in tomographic >data. On the Earth's surface the pattern is partially obscured by the >large size of the aggregated continental material which overlies some of >the larger features and is resistant to subduction. > >The warming of the subsurface ocean may also be a factor in positioning >the cycloidal features, and this coould perhaps obscuring the lateral >bihemispheric mantle convection (BLMC) pattern that the hypothesis >proposes. That would be unfortunate for my chances in forming a >collaboration because there will be no reason for you to entertain the >unifying theory unless you can physically see some long chasm along a >line of longitude on Europa. > >Having stated all this, what I am proposing is to test the Earth/Tethys >unifying hypothesis by using Europa as the test case. The theory only >holds on planets and moons that have a convecting mantle. A way to test >the hypothesis would be to have IcePIC aim at this possible sea floor >spreading ridge. Clearly it will be aiming anyway at such a site, and >this should happen only aft
