The Induction Response of a Dynamic, Heterogeneous Europan Ocean

Europa’s subsurface ocean is thought to host a variety of local and global heterogeneities, possibly including stratification and latitudinal and zonal flows. All of these would affect the distribution of salts throughout the ocean, creating asymmetries in ocean conductivity and potentially affecting the magnetic induction response of the ocean to Jupiter’s magnetic field. Separating out the effects of these structures on the induced response will form a key part of future investigations using data from the Europa Clipper and JUICE missions.

We explore the effects on the magnetic induction response of a variety of proposed ocean structures and features within a parameter space consistent with likely prevailing conditions within the moon. The response is characterised for the most significant periods and harmonics of the inducing field. This work helps to create a modelled baseline for constraining subsurface conditions and decoupling the effects of conductivity and ocean size on the induced response.