Overview
- An Oxford‑led team with Southwest Research Institute and the Planetary Science Institute reanalyzed Cassini thermal data and found the north pole is about 7 K warmer than expected.
- The study measured a north‑polar conductive flux of 46 ± 4 mW/m², extrapolating to roughly 35 GW from the north and about 54 GW globally when combined with south‑polar losses.
- The observed global heat loss aligns with models of tidal heating from Saturn, supporting thermal stability of Enceladus’ ocean over geological timescales.
- Thermal constraints indicate an ice shell approximately 20–23 km thick at the north pole and 25–28 km on average worldwide.
- The peer‑reviewed results, published November 7 in Science Advances, highlight unresolved questions about the ocean’s age and call for dedicated, long‑term in situ missions.