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Title: Convection in Thin Shells of Icy Satellites: Effects of Latitudinal Surface Temperature Variations
We use three‐dimensional numerical experiments of thin shell convection to explore what effects an expected latitudinal variation in solar insolation may have on a convection. We find that a global flow pattern of upwelling equatorial regions and downwelling polar regions, linked to higher and lower surface temperatures (Ts), respectively, is preferred. Due to the gradient inTs, boundary layer thicknesses vary from equatorial lows to polar highs, and polar oriented flow fields are established. AHadley cell‐type configuration with two hemispheric‐scale convective cells emerges with heat flow enhanced along the equator and suppressed poleward. The poleward transport pattern appears robust under a range of basal and mixed heating, isoviscous and temperature‐dependent viscosity, vigor of convection, and different degrees ofTsvariations. Our findings suggest that a latitudinal variation inTsis an important effect for convection within the thin ice shells of the outer satellites, becoming increasingly important as solar luminosity increases. VariableTsmodels predict lower heat flow and a more compressional regime near downwellings at higher latitudes, and higher heat flow and a more extensional regime near the equator. Within the ice shell, Hadley style flow could lead to large‐scale anisotropic ice properties that might be detectable with future seismic or electro‐magnetic observations.  more » « less
Award ID(s):
1853856
NSF-PAR ID:
10495086
Author(s) / Creator(s):
; ; ;
Publisher / Repository:
Wiley
Date Published:
Journal Name:
Journal of Geophysical Research: Planets
Volume:
124
Issue:
8
ISSN:
2169-9097
Page Range / eLocation ID:
2029 to 2053
Format(s):
Medium: X
Sponsoring Org:
National Science Foundation
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