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Ice Shell

All articles tagged with #ice shell

space1 month ago•14 min saved

Europa's ocean lies beneath a 29-kilometer ice shell, new Juno data suggest

A Juno Microwave Radiometer study estimates an average conductive ice shell of about 29 ± 10 km over Europa’s ocean in the observed region, favoring a thick-shell interpretation. The result is model-based and region-specific, not a global map, and factors like salt content or convection could shift the thickness. This finding tightens the barrier between surface ice and the ocean and underscores why Europa Clipper’s radar, gravity and other measurements are needed to test regional variation and the moon’s habitability potential.

via Space Daily|

#europa #habitability #ice-shell

space1 month ago•11 min saved

Titan’s potential cryovolcanoes could spew icy slush of water and ammonia

Titan may host cryovolcanoes that eject a cold ammonia–water slush instead of lava; Cassini-era data identified candidate features (like Sotra Patera) but no definitive smoking gun, leaving the cryovolcanism question unsettled. The interior could consist of high‑pressure ice pockets or a subsurface ocean that could supply melt, with ammonia helping lower the freezing point and reduce liquid density. The upcoming Dragonfly mission (launch 2028, arrival 2034) could measure surface chemistry, subsurface structure and seismic activity to help settle the debate; for now cryovolcanism on Titan remains physically plausible but unconfirmed.

via Space Daily|

#cassini #cryovolcanism #dragonfly

science1 month ago•13 min saved

Europa's Buried Ocean: Galileo’s Point Sparks a Vast Subsurface Sea

From Galileo's 1610 sighting of a tiny moon near Jupiter, scientists now consider Europa to host a global salty ocean buried under kilometers of ice, potentially larger than Earth's oceans. Magnetic data and surface geology suggest a 60–150 km-deep ocean under a 15–25 km ice shell, but no direct samples exist yet. NASA's Europa Clipper will study the ice shell, ocean, and chemistry to assess habitability without drilling through the ice or directly seeking life.

via Space Daily|

#europa #europa-clipper #ice-shell

space6 months ago•4 min saved

Juno Estimates Europa’s Ice Shell at 29 Kilometers, Hinting at a Deeper Ocean

NASA’s Juno used its Microwave Radiometer to measure Europa’s near-surface ice shell during a 2022 flyby, finding an average thickness of about 29 km (18 miles) in the observed region and favoring thicker-shell models; if a salty layer exists, thickness could be reduced by about 3 miles. The data also reveal small near-surface scatterers—cracks and pores—not likely to provide major nutrient pathways to the subsurface ocean, with implications for future Europa Clipper and Juice missions.

via NASA (.gov)|

#europa #habitability #ice-shell

space-science2 years ago•4 min saved

"Uncovering Europa's Ice: How a 'Snowball Fight' Could Reveal Clues to Alien Life"

Scientists are using observations of large craters on Jupiter's moon Europa to estimate the thickness of its ice shell, which is crucial for understanding the potential for life beneath its surface. The research suggests that the ice shell is likely thicker than previously thought, allowing for the possibility of chemical reactions to power any potential life forms. This study may also provide insights into the interaction between the rocky core and the ocean beneath Europa's icy crust, shedding light on the conditions for life on this moon of Jupiter.

via Space.com|

#europa #ice-shell #jupiter

space3 years ago•3 min saved

Unraveling the Mystery of Europa's Rotating Ice Shell and Buried Ocean

Scientists have used NASA supercomputers to study Europa's ice shell and found that the surface's out-of-sync rotation might be caused by ocean currents pushing from below. The ice shell floats on Europa's ocean, so it can rotate independently from the rest of the moon, including the ocean, rocky interior, and metallic core. The researchers used complex simulations of Europa's ocean to delve deeper into the details of water circulation on Europa, including how those patterns are influenced by the heating and cooling of the ocean. This research may also apply to other ocean worlds, the researchers point out, where surface features could offer hints about waters hidden below.

via ScienceAlert|

#europa #ice-shell #nasa