Assessing the Plausibility of Past Cryovolcanism on Umbriel Using the Wunda Impact Crater.
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| Title: | Assessing the Plausibility of Past Cryovolcanism on Umbriel Using the Wunda Impact Crater. |
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| Authors: | Denton, C. A.1 (AUTHOR) adeene.denton@contractor.swri.org, Scully, J. E. C.2 (AUTHOR), Castillo‐Rogez, J. C.2 (AUTHOR), Sori, M. M.3 (AUTHOR), Elder, C. M.2 (AUTHOR), Leonard, E. J.2 (AUTHOR), Cartwright, R.4 (AUTHOR), Nordheim, T. A.4 (AUTHOR), Beddingfield, C.4 (AUTHOR) |
| Source: | Journal of Geophysical Research. Planets. Feb2026, Vol. 131 Issue 2, p1-10. 10p. |
| Subject Terms: | *Ocean, Cryosphere, Impact craters, Natural satellites, Thermal engineering, Volcanism |
| Abstract: | The imaged portion of Umbriel's surface is dark and cratered, suggesting limited geologic activity. However, bright deposits occupying the Wunda impact crater may be of endogenic origin, similar to proposed cryovolcanic sources for fresh bright material occupying Occator crater on Ceres. Here, we model the formation of Wunda using iSALE‐2D. Our goal is to determine whether Wunda's inferred morphology is consistent with the interior structure predicted for Umbriel and whether Wunda's interior might originate from impact‐induced cryovolcanism and/or was sourced from a subsurface ocean. We find that, if Wunda is indeed a complex crater, as coarsely resolved imagery suggests, Umbriel's ice shell may have been much thinner (≤ ${\le} $50 km) and/or warmer (≥ ${\ge} $240 K) than predicted at present or subject to significant structural/compositional differences, such as abundant volatiles. These results help assess the thermal evolution of the Uranian satellites as potential ocean worlds. Plain Language Summary: Umbriel, a moon of Uranus, appears to have an ancient and geologically inactive surface. However, its crater Wunda possesses unusual bright deposits whose origins remain unknown. If the material comes from within Umbriel, it may have originated from eruptions of either melt generated by the impact, or a subsurface ocean uplifted underneath the crater floor. Here, we try to understand whether Umbriel's predicted interior structure can facilitate the potential eruptions associated with Wunda. We find that Wunda's formation may not be compatible with the thick, cold ice shell that Umbriel likely possesses today, and that Umbriel may have possessed a potentially warmer, thinner ice shell, and thus a larger potential ocean, earlier in its history. Assessing Umbriel's potential as an ocean world places important constraints on the formation, evolution, and habitability of all the Uranian satellites. Key Points: We performed numerical simulations of the formation of Umbriel's Wunda impact crater to explore the origin of its bright depositsWunda's morphology is most compatible with a thinner and/or weaker ice shell than currently predicted, which may imply higher past heat flowWunda's formation could facilitate cryovolcanism, directly from a shallow subsurface ocean or indirectly through eruption of impact melt [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR] |
| Copyright of Journal of Geophysical Research. Planets is the property of Wiley-Blackwell and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites without the copyright holder's express written permission. Additionally, content may not be used with any artificial intelligence tools or machine learning technologies. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.) | |
| Database: | GreenFILE |
| FullText | Text: Availability: 0 |
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| Header | DbId: 8gh DbLabel: GreenFILE An: 191834826 AccessLevel: 6 PubType: Academic Journal PubTypeId: academicJournal PreciseRelevancyScore: 0 |
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| Items | – Name: Title Label: Title Group: Ti Data: Assessing the Plausibility of Past Cryovolcanism on Umbriel Using the Wunda Impact Crater. – Name: Author Label: Authors Group: Au Data: <searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Denton%2C+C%2E+A%2E%22">Denton, C. A.</searchLink><relatesTo>1</relatesTo> (AUTHOR)<i> adeene.denton@contractor.swri.org</i><br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Scully%2C+J%2E+E%2E+C%2E%22">Scully, J. E. C.</searchLink><relatesTo>2</relatesTo> (AUTHOR)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Castillo‐Rogez%2C+J%2E+C%2E%22">Castillo‐Rogez, J. C.</searchLink><relatesTo>2</relatesTo> (AUTHOR)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Sori%2C+M%2E+M%2E%22">Sori, M. M.</searchLink><relatesTo>3</relatesTo> (AUTHOR)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Elder%2C+C%2E+M%2E%22">Elder, C. M.</searchLink><relatesTo>2</relatesTo> (AUTHOR)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Leonard%2C+E%2E+J%2E%22">Leonard, E. J.</searchLink><relatesTo>2</relatesTo> (AUTHOR)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Cartwright%2C+R%2E%22">Cartwright, R.</searchLink><relatesTo>4</relatesTo> (AUTHOR)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Nordheim%2C+T%2E+A%2E%22">Nordheim, T. A.</searchLink><relatesTo>4</relatesTo> (AUTHOR)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Beddingfield%2C+C%2E%22">Beddingfield, C.</searchLink><relatesTo>4</relatesTo> (AUTHOR) – Name: TitleSource Label: Source Group: Src Data: <searchLink fieldCode="JN" term="%22Journal+of+Geophysical+Research%2E+Planets%22">Journal of Geophysical Research. Planets</searchLink>. Feb2026, Vol. 131 Issue 2, p1-10. 10p. – Name: Subject Label: Subject Terms Group: Su Data: *<searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Ocean%22">Ocean</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Cryosphere%22">Cryosphere</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Impact+craters%22">Impact craters</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Natural+satellites%22">Natural satellites</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Thermal+engineering%22">Thermal engineering</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Volcanism%22">Volcanism</searchLink> – Name: Abstract Label: Abstract Group: Ab Data: The imaged portion of Umbriel's surface is dark and cratered, suggesting limited geologic activity. However, bright deposits occupying the Wunda impact crater may be of endogenic origin, similar to proposed cryovolcanic sources for fresh bright material occupying Occator crater on Ceres. Here, we model the formation of Wunda using iSALE‐2D. Our goal is to determine whether Wunda's inferred morphology is consistent with the interior structure predicted for Umbriel and whether Wunda's interior might originate from impact‐induced cryovolcanism and/or was sourced from a subsurface ocean. We find that, if Wunda is indeed a complex crater, as coarsely resolved imagery suggests, Umbriel's ice shell may have been much thinner (≤ ${\le} $50 km) and/or warmer (≥ ${\ge} $240 K) than predicted at present or subject to significant structural/compositional differences, such as abundant volatiles. These results help assess the thermal evolution of the Uranian satellites as potential ocean worlds. Plain Language Summary: Umbriel, a moon of Uranus, appears to have an ancient and geologically inactive surface. However, its crater Wunda possesses unusual bright deposits whose origins remain unknown. If the material comes from within Umbriel, it may have originated from eruptions of either melt generated by the impact, or a subsurface ocean uplifted underneath the crater floor. Here, we try to understand whether Umbriel's predicted interior structure can facilitate the potential eruptions associated with Wunda. We find that Wunda's formation may not be compatible with the thick, cold ice shell that Umbriel likely possesses today, and that Umbriel may have possessed a potentially warmer, thinner ice shell, and thus a larger potential ocean, earlier in its history. Assessing Umbriel's potential as an ocean world places important constraints on the formation, evolution, and habitability of all the Uranian satellites. Key Points: We performed numerical simulations of the formation of Umbriel's Wunda impact crater to explore the origin of its bright depositsWunda's morphology is most compatible with a thinner and/or weaker ice shell than currently predicted, which may imply higher past heat flowWunda's formation could facilitate cryovolcanism, directly from a shallow subsurface ocean or indirectly through eruption of impact melt [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR] – Name: AbstractSuppliedCopyright Label: Group: Ab Data: <i>Copyright of Journal of Geophysical Research. Planets is the property of Wiley-Blackwell and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites without the copyright holder's express written permission. Additionally, content may not be used with any artificial intelligence tools or machine learning technologies. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract.</i> (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.) |
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| RecordInfo | BibRecord: BibEntity: Identifiers: – Type: doi Value: 10.1029/2025JE009282 Languages: – Code: eng Text: English PhysicalDescription: Pagination: PageCount: 10 StartPage: 1 Subjects: – SubjectFull: Ocean Type: general – SubjectFull: Cryosphere Type: general – SubjectFull: Impact craters Type: general – SubjectFull: Natural satellites Type: general – SubjectFull: Thermal engineering Type: general – SubjectFull: Volcanism Type: general Titles: – TitleFull: Assessing the Plausibility of Past Cryovolcanism on Umbriel Using the Wunda Impact Crater. Type: main BibRelationships: HasContributorRelationships: – PersonEntity: Name: NameFull: Denton, C. A. – PersonEntity: Name: NameFull: Scully, J. E. C. – PersonEntity: Name: NameFull: Castillo‐Rogez, J. C. – PersonEntity: Name: NameFull: Sori, M. M. – PersonEntity: Name: NameFull: Elder, C. M. – PersonEntity: Name: NameFull: Leonard, E. J. – PersonEntity: Name: NameFull: Cartwright, R. – PersonEntity: Name: NameFull: Nordheim, T. A. – PersonEntity: Name: NameFull: Beddingfield, C. IsPartOfRelationships: – BibEntity: Dates: – D: 01 M: 02 Text: Feb2026 Type: published Y: 2026 Identifiers: – Type: issn-print Value: 21699097 Numbering: – Type: volume Value: 131 – Type: issue Value: 2 Titles: – TitleFull: Journal of Geophysical Research. Planets Type: main |
| ResultId | 1 |
