The ocean on Jupiter’s moon was suitable for life – the Russian newspaper

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Ice ocean on Europa, a satellite Jupiter, similar to the earth’s oceans in chemical composition and physical properties, news agency RIA Novosti reported with reference to the jet Propulsion Laboratory of NASA.

 

This increases the chances for the existence of life in it. To such conclusion the group of scientists led by Stephen Vance, studying the properties of ice oceans on Europa. He has long attracted the attention of astrophysicists. In this study, the results of which were published in the journal Geophysical Journal Letters, focuses on the cycle of hydrogen and oxygen. They determine the acid-alkaline balance of the ocean, create a food source for bacteria and manage a variety of other factors.

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“We are studying the ocean on another planet, using methods developed for studying the cycle of energy and nutrients in the earth’s ecosystems, – says Steven Vance -. The cycle of oxygen and hydrogen in Europe, the ocean, as well as in the Earth’s oceans, will be one of the key processes , conducts its evolution and microbial life, if they are there. “

 

According to the authors, the main source of hydrogen in the Earth’s oceans and Europe are alkaline rocks on the seabed. On our planet, they are the result of tectonic processes on Europe – due to the fact that the rocky core is gradually “crack” as cooling and exposes them. At the introduction of such species to react with the water, a large amount of hydrogen.

 

As for oxygen, it is formed on the surface of the ice shell in Europe during the decomposition of water molecules by cosmic rays and the magnetic field of Jupiter. Part of it should fall back into the water. The researchers calculated that the water in Europe are able to produce about 10 times more oxygen than hydrogen, which is comparable to terrestrial values. In their view, this indicates that the chemical balance in the oceans of Europe about the same as in the Earth’s oceans, which increases the chances of finding life in it.