Overview
- A peer‑reviewed analysis of Cassini data reports significant conductive heat flow at Enceladus’s north pole, overturning the south‑only heat‑loss assumption.
- Seasonal infrared observations from deep winter 2005 and summer 2015 show the north polar surface about 7 K warmer than models predicted, indicating heat leaking from the ocean below.
- The north‑polar conductive flux is measured at 46 ± 4 mW/m², yielding roughly 35 GW of global conductive loss.
- Combining the new estimate with south‑pole outputs gives ~54 GW of total heat loss, closely matching the 50–55 GW expected from tidal heating and supporting sustained ocean conditions.
- Thermal constraints imply an ice shell ~20–23 km thick at the north pole and ~25–28 km globally, as authors emphasize that the ocean’s age remains uncertain and urge targeted future missions.