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.
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 |