Overview
- Researchers modeled Europa’s size, interior makeup and Jupiter’s tidal forces, concluding there is likely little to no active faulting at the seafloor today.
- Calculated tidal heating appears sufficient to keep the ocean from freezing but too weak to deform the rocky bottom, unlike the intense activity seen on Io.
- The assessment pertains to current conditions, with the authors noting Europa may have been more geologically active billions of years ago.
- Europa still offers a global subsurface ocean and detected organics, preserving scientific interest despite reduced expectations for present-day seafloor energy sources.
- NASA’s Europa Clipper begins close flybys in 2031 and ESA’s JUICE follow-up in 2032, providing measurements that could confirm or challenge the study’s predictions.