Enceladus, one of Saturn's moons, is known to have geysers erupting from its south polar region. These geysers spew water vapor, along with ice particles and other material, into space. The process by which this water from Enceladus' subsurface ocean feeds into Saturn's exterior E ring is as follows:
Geysers Eruption: Enceladus has fractures on its south pole, known as "Tiger Stripes." These fractures allow water from the subsurface ocean to erupt through geysers into space.
Water Vapor and Ice Particles: The geysers release water vapor, along with tiny ice particles and other materials, into the space surrounding Enceladus.
Plume Formation: The erupted materials form a plume, which is a large, expanding cloud of gas and particles.
Ejection into Space: The plume rises above Enceladus' surface and escapes its gravitational pull, shooting into space.
Orbital Dynamics: Once in space, the water vapor and ice particles follow Enceladus' orbital path around Saturn. Enceladus orbits Saturn within its E ring region.
Incorporation into E Ring: The water vapor and ice particles released by Enceladus become part of Saturn's E ring. This ring is composed mainly of ice particles, including those originating from Enceladus.
In summary, the geysers on Enceladus propel water vapor, ice particles, and other materials into space, forming a plume. The ejected material follows Enceladus' orbital path and becomes incorporated into Saturn's E ring, creating a continuous supply of fresh material to replenish and maintain the ring.