Tectonic analysis of a newly identified putative cryovolcanic field on Europa

Abstract

More and more attention is devoted to the icy moons of the Solar System, including Europa, the second Galilean satellite of Jupiter, since the discovery of potential liquid water and the possibility of extra-terrestriallife harbored in its subsurface ocean below its icy crust. Along with the renaissanceof the study of icy satellites, the ongoing missions, such as Europa Clipper and JUICE (JUpiter ICy moons Explorer), are also part of such rejuvenation of icy satellite research.One of the leading research topics connected to Europa is understanding its surface renewal, including the interaction between the subsurface ocean and the icy crust. One of the longest-lasting and still unsettled debates related to Europa is about the nature of the potentially active cryovolcanism, which may play an essential role in the interaction between the surface of the Jovian moon and the underlying subsurface ocean. Our study focuses on the geological-geomorphological characterization of a newly identified putative cryovolcanic field found on the surface of Europa. Various volcanic structures, possibly in multiple stages of maturity, were identified. The executed geological analysis in the surroundings of the volcanoes suggests strong local influence during the formation of cryovolcanic cones working together with the overall global-scale stress fields appearing in the ice crust of Europa.