# Seismic wave propagation in icy ocean worlds

## TL;DR

This paper develops a seismological framework for icy ocean worlds like Europa and Enceladus, using waveform analysis and simulations to classify seismic waves and explore interior properties relevant to habitability.

## Contribution

It introduces a new seismic wave classification scheme and adapts seismological concepts specifically for icy ocean worlds, aiding future planetary seismology efforts.

## Key findings

- Developed a concise naming scheme for seismic waves on icy worlds
- Analyzed seismic wavefield features on Europa, Titan, Ganymede, and Enceladus
- Simulated seismic measurements to constrain interior geochemical parameters

## Abstract

Seismology was developed on Earth and shaped our model of the Earth's interior over the 20th century. With the exception of the Philae lander, all in situ extraterrestrial seismological effort to date was limited to other terrestrial planets. All have in common a rigid crust above a solid mantle. The coming years may see the installation of seismometers on Europa, Titan and Enceladus, so it is necessary to adapt seismological concepts to the setting of worlds with global oceans covered in ice. Here we use waveform analyses to identify and classify wave types, developing a lexicon for icy ocean world seismology intended to be useful to both seismologists and planetary scientists. We use results from spectral-element simulations of broadband seismic wavefields to adapt seismological concepts to icy ocean worlds. We present a concise naming scheme for seismic waves and an overview of the features of the seismic wavefield on Europa, Titan, Ganymede and Enceladus. In close connection with geophysical interior models, we analyze simulated seismic measurements of Europa and Titan that might be used to constrain geochemical parameters governing the habitability of a sub-ice ocean.