Turbulent Drag at the Ice‐Ocean Interface of Europa in Simulations of Rotating Convection: Implications for Nonsynchronous Rotation of the Ice Shell

Europa's geologically scarred surface shows significant evidence that the ice shell may have rotated nonsynchronously in the past. The long‐term spin state of the ice shell is controlled by the time‐mean torques acting upon it. A torque that has not been previously considered is exerted due to drag from oceanic currents beneath the ice. We estimate this torque for the first time by performing global, nonhydrostatic, three‐dimensional simulations of Europa's ocean, including nonlinear turbulent boundary layer drag at the seafloor and ice‐ocean interface. Our simulations show that ocean dynamics, which manifest in alternating east‐west jets, result in a net torque on the ice shell. The torque can act to either spin up or spin down the ice shell depending on the strength of convection, suggesting that a torque reversal can occur as Europa's interior thermally evolves. Scaling analysis indicates that an average jet speed of at least ∼1 cm s−1 is required for the ice‐ocean torque to be comparable to the tidal torque acting to spin up the ice shell. Our results suggest that ocean currents may contribute to any nonsynchronous rotation of the ice shell. Consequently, Europa's present‐day spin state may hold information about the dynamics of its subsurface ocean. Plain Language Summary Europa's subsurface ocean is heated from below via tidal heating and radioactive decay of the rocky interior, while being cooled from above by its frozen surface. Simulations and laboratory experiments suggest that this results in convection, whereby heat is transported in rising and sinking plumes of warm and cold water. These plumes are influenced by Europa's rotation and consequently form jets of alternating east‐west oceanic currents. At the surface, the flowing ocean exerts friction on the ice, causing it to move. We simulate this process using a large‐scale computer model of Europa's ocean. Our simulations show that the jets can exert enough friction on the ice to be relevant in understanding how the ice shell rotates. We suggest that this may have increased or decreased Europa's spin rate in the past. Because of this effect, precise measurements of how fast Europa's surface is spinning may hold clues about how the ocean inside is flowing around today. Key Points Rotating convection in Europa's ocean drives a net torque on the ice shell through turbulent drag at the ice‐ocean interface The ice‐ocean torque spins up the ice shell if the convective forcing is weak, and spins down