As they await the arrival of the Europa Clipper probe, scientists remain intensely interested in this small, frozen moon of Jupiter. In particular, a new study shows that Europe's internal tides could be an important source of heat.
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[EN VIDÉO] Europa, a potentially habitable moon in the solar system Europa is one of Jupiter's four major moons. It is home to an ocean of icy water,…
Strange Europe. This moon of Jupiter, barely smaller than our moon, has a completely frozen surface riddled with long cracks. In contrast to the other moons of the solar system, Europa has almost no impact craters. Peculiarities that suggest that its surface is constantly being reworked, a bit like plate tectonics but very exotic.
A subglacial ocean driven by strong currents
However, these surface dynamics show that significant currents must drive Europa's interior, which would consist of a deep subglacial ocean. This saltwater ocean would be in direct contact with the rocks of the Earth's mantle. A configuration that allows intense chemical and thermal exchange between rock and water. In fact, it is envisaged that Europe could provide the necessary conditions for the emergence of life.
Researchers have been studying the origins of this subglacial ocean circulation and the effects it can have on the thickness of the ice crust. The results were published in the journal AGU Advances.
Tides, heat source
If the heat transferred from the Earth's mantle appears to be one of the main drivers of this circulation, two different sources can apparently be cited. The first, well known on Earth, is the decay of the radioactive elements that make up the rocks of the Earth's mantle. But this process may not be dominant. Because Europa has another source of energy that is related to its close proximity to Jupiter. It's about the tides.
Of the gas giant's 95 known moons, Europa is one of the closest orbits to the planet. The attractive force acting on Europe is therefore enormous and leads to significant internal tides. However, this deformation of the mantle rock is a source of heat. Heat which is then transferred to the subglacial ocean. Models were used to determine that tidal heat was therefore dominant in the Europa mantle. However, this heat would not be distributed evenly. It would be particularly larger at the poles, suggesting that surface ice would be thinner in these regions.
Waiting for the Europa Clipper probe to arrive
Results to be confirmed by the Europa Clipper probe. This probe, scheduled to launch in October 2024, is expected to reach Europe in 2030. The goal is to confirm the presence of an ocean of liquid liquid water and determine whether this moon of Jupiter actually has the requirements for the presence of extraterrestrial life.