Astronomers using data from NASA's James Webb Space Telescope have identified carbon dioxide in a specific region on the icy surface of Europa.
Analysis indicates that this carbon likely originated in the subsurface ocean and was not delivered by meteorites or other external sources. Moreover, it was deposited on a geologically recent timescale. This discovery has important implications for the potential habitability of Europa's ocean.
"We now think that we have observational evidence that the carbon we see on Europa's surface came from the ocean. That's not a trivial thing. Carbon is a biologically essential element," added Samantha Trumbo of Cornell University in Ithaca, New York, lead author of the second paper analyzing these data.
"Scientists are debating how much Europa's ocean connects to its surface. I think that question has been a big driver of Europa exploration," said Villanueva."This suggests that we may be able to learn some basic things about the ocean's composition even before we drill through the ice to get the full picture."
Carbon dioxide isn't stable on Europa's surface. Therefore, the scientists say it's likely that it was supplied on a geologically recent timescale -- a conclusion bolstered by its concentration in a region of young terrain.
France Dernières Nouvelles, France Actualités
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