Tectonics and water on Europa (original) (raw)

Planetary science

Nature volume 405, page 637 (2000)Cite this article

Abstract

The tectonics of Europa, one of Jupiter's moons, are complex. This satellite probably hosts a subsurface water ocean, but the thickness of the outer ice crust is poorly constrained and the episodic presence of liquid water at the surface is debated. We argue that some surface features of Europa are formed by soft ice that is heated by viscous dissipation of tidal motion along faults, and do not depend on a shallow ocean. Our model suggests that transient pockets of liquid water or brine could form at shallow depths in the crust.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Jet Propulsion Laboratory, California Institute of Technology, 4800 Oak Grove Drive, Pasadena, 91109, California, USA
    Eric J. Gaidos
  2. Department of Earth Sciences, Bullard Laboratories, Madingley Rise University of Cambridge, Madingley Road, Cambridge, CB3 0EZ, UK
    Francis Nimmo

Authors

  1. Eric J. Gaidos
  2. Francis Nimmo

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Gaidos, E., Nimmo, F. Tectonics and water on Europa.Nature 405, 637 (2000). https://doi.org/10.1038/35015170

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