The structure and dynamics of Europa’s ice shell

Jupiter’s moon Europa is a fascinating world and a prime candidate for life within our Solar System. I will focus on the outer ice shell of the satellite where the dissipated tidal energy sustains a subsurface ocean. If the ice shell allows for exchange processes, exogenic material deposited on the surface would be an important factor for habitability. If the exchange of material with the ocean is reciprocal, the shell can also serve as a window to the interior of the moon. I will discuss the recent progress in understanding the structure and dynamics of Europa’s ice shell and give an overview on how NASA’s upcoming Europa Clipper mission can contribute to the exploration of this unique icy satellite by radar sounding.

Speaker: Gregor Steinbrügge, UT Austin/Stanford