PIA18428: Plate Tectonics on Europa


Plate Tectonics on Europa

Caption:

Scientists have found evidence of plate tectonics on Jupiter's moon Europa. This conceptual illustration of the subduction process (where one plate is forced under another) shows how a cold, brittle, outer portion of Europa's 20-30 kilometer-thick (roughly 10-20 mile) ice shell moved into the warmer shell interior and was ultimately subsumed. A low-relief subsumption band was created at the surface in the overriding plate, alongside which cryolavas may have erupted.

Cataloging Keywords:

Name Value Additional Values
Target Europa
System Jupiter
Target Type Satellite
Mission Galileo
Instrument Host
Host Type
Instrument
Detector
Extra Keywords Color
Acquisition Date
Release Date 2014-09-08
Date in Caption
Image Credit NASA/Noah Kroese, I.NK
Source photojournal.jpl.nasa.gov/catalog/PIA18428
Identifier PIA18428