Jupiter’s moon Europa is slightly smaller than Earth’s moon and is one of the most promising places to look for extraterrestrial life. Among the Jupiter system, Europa is of particular interest to scientists because of compelling evidence that nutrients, water, and energy could potentially provide a habitable environment for some kind of life beyond Earth. Additionally, Europa is believed to consist of four layers (from the surface to the centre): an icy crust, a salty ocean, a rocky mantle, and a metallic core.

Like Earth, Europa’s ocean is adjacent to a rocky seafloor that can contribute to life-friendly rock and water chemistry. Some scientists also believe there may be volcanoes on the seafloor that could provide more energy and nutrients for a potential biosphere.

ASU scientists Kevin Trinh, Carver Bierson, and Joe O’Rourke of the School of Earth and Space Studies investigated the consequences of Europa formation with low initial temperatures using computer code that Trinh wrote. Their findings were recently published Science Advances.

Hydrated rocks may be an important component

Europa may have originated from a metamorphic ocean. While some scientists speculate on this, Trinh and his team show that if Europa were to consist of hydrated rocks (that is, rocks containing hydrogen and oxygen), Europa’s interior would have to be heated enough to release water directly from the hydrated rocks. create an ocean and armor of ice.

“The origin of Europa’s ocean is important because the moon’s potential to support life ultimately depends on the chemical components and physical conditions in the ocean formation process,” said Kevin Trinh, a graduate student in ASU’s School of Earth and Space Studies.

Formation of a metal core requires high temperatures

Many scientists studying this icy moon have suggested that Europa formed with a metallic core during or shortly after accretion. This ASU study contradicts this prediction, instead suggesting that Europa may not have started forming its metallic core (if any) billions of years after the accumulation.

“For most worlds in the Solar System, we tend to think that their internal structures were formed soon after they were formed. This work is very exciting because it re-imagines Europe as a world that slowly evolves throughout its lifetime. At ASU’s School of Earth and Space Studies “This opens the door to future research to understand how these changes might be seen on Europa we see today,” said research associate Carver Birson.

The presence of a metallic core is deeply linked to Europa’s internal heat, which can also be used to stimulate seafloor volcanism and create a habitable seafloor environment. But it’s unclear whether Europa emits enough heat to form such a core. Trine’s code calculates how heat is generated and distributed throughout the Moon using the same governing equations that many geodynamics have used for decades. However, the team’s new conclusion comes from difficult assumptions common to model Europa: A small moon like Europa could have formed as a cold mix of ice, rock, and metal.

However, all these processes require a warm indoor environment. A satellite as small as Europa (~1% Earth mass) may not have enough energy to initiate or sustain Earth-like processes (metallic core formation, seafloor volcanism, and persistent rock and water geochemistry), meaning Europe’s life potential is uncertain. income. . The exact time of Europa’s formation is determined by the amount of heat taken from the radioactive decay of the short-lived aluminum isotope. Tidal warming (due to gravitational interactions with Jupiter and other moons) also determines the rate at which Europa’s interior splits into separate layers.

Europa’s seafloor may be cool, moist, and experience limited (if any) seafloor volcanism.

This study suggests that Europa may have limited hydrothermal activity and seafloor volcanism that could hinder habitability. However, more data is needed for reliable estimates.

“Europe isn’t just a wet baby Earth. It’s a special world full of mysteries to unravel,” said Joseph O’Rourke, associate professor at the ASU School of Earth and Space Studies.

In October 2024, NASA plans to launch a spacecraft called the Europa Clipper, which should reach Europa in April 2030. Thanks to the latest work by Trinh, Birson and O’Rourke, scientists will be able to better interpret data from the Europa Clipper, whose main purpose is to evaluate Jupiter Europa’s icy moon for potential life conditions. Source