Potential for a Subsurface Ocean on Europa and its Suitability for Life

Mathematics – Logic

Scientific paper

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5430 Interiors (8147), 5455 Origin And Evolution, 5464 Remote Sensing, 6218 Jovian Satellites

Scientific paper

Many different lines of geological and geophysical evidences point to the possibility of a liquid subsurface ocean on Jupiter's moon, Europa. For example, the very young age (< 20 my) of the surface and the isostatic relaxation of recent impact craters suggest that the surface is renewed by processes operating in a low viscosity region beneath the surface. Similarly, the formation of lenticulae, cryovolcanic features and pull-apart bands are facilitated by the presence of a liquid or a very low viscosity material beneath a thin crust. The non-synchronous rotation of Europa's crust and the presence of chaos regions also require the presence of liquid or very low viscosity material very close to the surface. Perhaps, the strongest evidence for the presence of liquid water is provided by the observation of a strong electromagnetic induction signal observed by the Galileo magnetometer, suggesting that a large global electrical conductor is located just below the icy crust. A detailed analysis of the induction signal seen during several of the flybys reveals that a global salty ocean with salinity similar to the Earth's ocean and thickness in the range of ~6 - 100 kms could explain the induction observed by the magnetometer. With the potential for a subsurface ocean abundantly clear, the attention has now turned to ascertaining the suitability of Europan ocean for life. We will explore different arguments, both pro and con, on the possibility of life forms in a Europan ocean.

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