Cracks and Ridges on Europa
Explanation:
Which way to the
interstate?
What appears to be a caricature of a complex highway system on
Earth is actually a system of
ridges and cracks on the icy surface of
Jupiter's moon
Europa.
The distance between parallel ridges in the
above photograph is typically about 1 kilometer.
The complexity of the
cracks and
ridges tell a story of
Europa's past that is mostly undecipherable --
planetary geologists try to understand just the
general origin of the overall features.
One noteworthy feature
is the overall white sheen, possibly indicating the
presence of frost.
Another is the dark centers between parallel ridges,
which might indicate that dirty water from an
underground ocean
recently welled up in the cracks and froze.
Recent research indicates that enough
carbon exists to support an
underwater biosphere, but that
Europa's ice crust may be over three kilometers thick in some places.
Authors & editors:
Robert Nemiroff
(MTU) &
Jerry Bonnell
(USRA)
NASA Web Site Statements, Warnings,
and Disclaimers
NASA Official: Jay Norris.
Specific
rights apply.
A service of:
LHEA at
NASA /
GSFC
& Michigan Tech. U.
