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Evidencia de un océano subterráneo en Europa.
M H Carr1, M J Belton, C R Chapman
1US Geological Survey, Menlo Park, California 94025, USA. carr@astmnl.wr.usgs.gov
Nature
|February 5, 1998
Resumen
Las imágenes de alta resolución de Galileo de la luna Europa de Júpiter revelan evidencia de icebergs móviles, lo que apoya la presencia de un océano poco profundo bajo la superficie. Este hallazgo ofrece nuevos conocimientos sobre la actividad geológica de Europa y su potencial habitabilidad.
Área de la Ciencia:
- Ciencias planetarias Ciencias planetarias.
- Astrobiología Astrobiología.
- Geología Geología Geología.
Sus antecedentes:
- Los datos de espectroscopia y gravedad sugieren que Europa tiene una corteza helada de 150 km y un interior rocoso.
- Las imágenes de la Voyager muestran rasgos lineales (lineae) y un terreno joven, lo que insinúa una capa de agua líquida subterránea.
- Las imágenes anteriores de baja resolución (<2 km/pixel) dificultaban la confirmación de la existencia de un océano subterráneo.
Objetivo del estudio:
- Presentar imágenes de alta resolución de Europa tomadas por la nave espacial Galileo.
- Para investigar la evidencia de icebergs móviles y aguas subterráneas poco profundas.
- Para evaluar la naturaleza generalizada de estos fenómenos.
Principales métodos:
- Análisis de imágenes de alta resolución (54 m/pixel) de Europa tomadas por la nave espacial Galileo.
- Examen de imágenes de menor resolución que cubren regiones más grandes.
Principales resultados:
- El descubrimiento de "icebergs" móviles en la superficie de Europa.
- La morfología detallada del terreno apoya fuertemente el agua líquida de poca profundidad, pasada o presente.
- Las observaciones sugieren que estos fenómenos están muy extendidos por toda Europa.
Conclusiones:
- Las imágenes de alta resolución proporcionan evidencia convincente de aguas superficiales poco profundas en Europa.
- Los hallazgos apoyan los modelos que involucran el calentamiento de las mareas y la actividad geológica impulsada por un océano subterráneo.
- La capa de hielo dinámica de Europa y el potencial de agua líquida aumentan su importancia astrobiológica.
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