Tracking Europa’s Ice Shell Evolution, Geologic Activity, and Water Content Due to  Episodic Tidal Heating

Dr. Walker will combine a variety of thermal, orbital, and structural response models to emulate the environment of Europa’s ice shell. In particular, he will examine how variations in the eccentricity of orbit lead to changes in tidal dissipation, the temperature structure, and thickness of the ice. Furthermore, the consequences of spin obliquity and precession, non-synchronous rotations, and other perturbital effects will be monitored. Walker will adapt his models to include the effects of neighboring satellites Ganymede and Io on the eccentricities as well as the system heat budget. With knowledge of the orbital and thermal environment predicted he will assist PI Rhoden in calculating the tidal stresses that result, and link these to observed surface morphologies.