Study of the eruption mechanism of Saturn’s moon Enceladus plume using the mathematical model of a geyser (periodic bubbling spring)

The mathematical model of a geyser induced by gas inflow was applied to clarify the spouting mechanism of the plume of Saturn’s moon Enceladus. Since Plumes are thought to be caused by the intermittent spouting of underground sea water from crevices on the surface of ice covered globally, Plumes are similar to geysers on Earth. The spouting dynamics of the plume was able to be reproduced using parameter values that matched the characteristics of Enceladus based on numerical simulation of the mathematical model. By this research method using the mathematical model of a geyser, it is possible to estimate the underground structure of Enceladus under the plumes.