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Europa's Icy Secrets: Radio Waves Reveal Subsurface Clues
19 Jun
Summary
- Europa's surface scatters radio waves differently than rocky worlds.
- A 13-year radio study revealed higher radar albedo than planets.
- Findings help set limits on radio telescope penetration depth.
New analysis of 13 years of radio data from 2011 to 2024 offers a deeper understanding of Jupiter's moon, Europa. The study, presented at the American Astronomical Society's meeting, indicates that Europa's surface scattering of radio waves differs significantly from that of rocky planets.
Researchers observed a notably high radar albedo for Europa, a characteristic attributed to multiple scattering within clean, porous ice. This finding aligns with previous radar studies but benefits from a broader observational dataset covering more of Europa's rotational phases.
The moon's radar brightness remained consistent regardless of changes in the angles between the transmitter, Europa, and the receiver. This stability allows scientists to better define the limits of radio wave penetration into Europa's ice.
Understanding Europa's internal structure and ice purity is vital for the success of forthcoming missions. NASA's Europa Clipper and ESA's Juice are en route to study Jupiter's moons, and this research will help them optimize their investigations into the subsurface oceans suspected to exist on Europa.
