An in-depth analysis of the stresses, tides, and internal forces on Jupiter’s icy moon Europa indicates that the moon lacks the active submarine faults essential for robust hydrothermal circulation. This phenomenon significantly impacts Europa’s chemical energy and overall habitability.
A stunning view of Europa’s surface. Image scale is 1.6 km per pixel. North of Europa is on the right. Image credit: NASA / JPL-Caltech / SETI Institute.
On Earth, tectonic activity is crucial for supporting diverse habitats that sustain life.
This interaction between water and rocks on the ocean floor can generate chemical energy essential for potential biological processes.
Thus, the existence of tectonic activity on a celestial body can indicate an environment conducive to supporting life.
Europa, one of Jupiter’s moons, is believed to harbor an immense underground ocean beneath its frosty exterior.
While earlier studies hinted at volcanic activity beneath Europa’s ocean floor, the potential for tectonic movement had not been thoroughly explored until now.
“If we could survey those oceans using remote-controlled submarines, we predict we wouldn’t observe any new cracks, active volcanoes, or hydrothermal vents on the ocean floor,” stated Dr. Paul Byrne, a researcher at Washington University in St. Louis.
“Geologically, nothing is changing there. Everything remains quiet.”
“In icy worlds like Europa, a tranquil ocean floor could suggest a lifeless ocean.”
Dr. Byrne and his team conducted comprehensive modeling to evaluate potential tectonic activity within Europa’s theorized subsurface ocean.
Their findings were compared against known behaviors on Earth’s ocean floor and Enceladus.
The researchers assessed stress from tidal forces, global contraction, mantle convection, and serpentinization— a geological process involving the interaction of rocks and water.
However, they concluded that these factors are unlikely to be driving tectonic activity, even along Europa’s existing fissures at present.
This discovery implies that water-rock interactions might be confined to the uppermost layers of the ocean floor, which limits the prospects for habitable conditions beneath Europa’s surface.
Future research aims to gather direct evidence regarding Europa’s geology and tectonics.
“Europa likely experiences tidal heating, which is why it hasn’t fully frozen,” Dr. Byrne noted.
“There may have been greater heating in its distant past.”
“However, currently, we do not observe eruptions from the ice as seen on Io. Our calculations indicate that the currents are simply not strong enough to foster significant geological activity on the ocean floor.”
For more details, refer to the results published in this week’s issue of Nature Communications.
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PK burn et al. 2026. There may be little or no active faults on Europa’s ocean floor today. Nat Commune 17, 4; doi: 10.1038/s41467-025-67151-3
Source: www.sci.news
