Jupiter's largest moon, Europa, is an object of interest in the solar system, especially in recent years, with the continuous advancement of astrobiology, scientists tend to believe that Europa's underground global ocean may be suitable for the birth of some form of life, but because Europa's underground ocean is covered by a thick layer of ice, it is difficult to study this ocean. According to the conclusions of a new study, scientists now have a new understanding of the relationship between this thick layer of ice on Europa's surface and the ocean inside.
Scientists have long believed that Europa's surface is covered by a thick layer of ice, and beneath the ice is a global ocean that contains even 2 times more water than Earth's ocean. But the ice on Europa's surface is too thick, and it is still extremely difficult to study it with current human technology.
Europa's ice may be between 15 and 25 kilometers thick, and scientists believe that this thick ice is separated from the ocean up to 100 kilometers deep below, meaning that Europa's ice is affected by the subsurface ocean and may move at a different rate than the sea water in the subsurface ocean, and the conclusions of a recent study confirm this conjecture.
According to the latest research conclusions of NASA scientists, scientists believe that the existence of Europa's underground ocean and the ocean currents in the Earth's oceans are similar to the movement, due to the decay of radioactive elements in Europa's inner core, as well as the huge tidal force of Jupiter, the heat emitted by Europa's core will form the movement of ocean currents, and this movement process may have a direct impact on the speed of ice movement on Europa's surface, specifically, ocean current movement may slow down or accelerate the movement of Europa's ice layer. This results in cracks or ridge-like terrain features on Europa's surface.
The conclusion of this study is of great significance for our understanding and understanding of the formation and evolution of Europa, and also helps scientists to find the subsurface ocean on extraterrestrial objects, which will greatly enlighten us to find alien life on other celestial bodies.
Europa is the preferred target for the search for extraterrestrial life in the solar system, and NASA is currently on a scientific mission called the Europa Clipper, which plans to conduct a comprehensive and detailed exploration of Europa and its subsurface ocean. The Europa Clipper mission has entered the equipment assembly stage, is scheduled to be launched in 2024, and arrives at Europa in 2030 for scientific expeditions, when it remains to be seen whether this mysterious and promising celestial body can bring great surprises to mankind!