Mass-wasting Features on Galilean Icy Moons: Morphological Analysis and Implications

Abstract This study investigates mass-wasting features on the icy Galilean satellites Europa, Ganymede, and Callisto. Through comparative morphological analysis, we identified and classified slides, slumps, and flow-like deposits as mass-wasting categories using Galileo Solid State Imager data. Our findings reveal distinct variations in mobility, run-out length, and deposit characteristics across the three satellites. On Europa low topographic relief limits deposit mobility whereas Ganymede and Callisto exhibit longer run-out lengths, potentially due to compositional differences. We estimated the coefficient of friction ( H/L ), volume ( V ), area ( A ), and thickness ( d ) of the deposits to quantify and compare the regolith mobility among all three Galilean satellites, along with Mars and Earth (Iceland). These results enhance our understanding of surface processes on icy bodies and highlight regions of interest for the Europa Clipper mission, particularly for high-resolution imaging and radar analysis. This study provides critical insights into Europa’s surface dynamics and regolith instability, informing future exploration of the subsurface structure and potential habitability on icy moons.