1. Topography of Chaotic Terrain on Europa
Presented by:
Adriana Riggs
Mentor:
Richard Greenberg,
LPL University of Arizona

2. Europa One of Jupiter’s moons Size of Earth’s moon Thin layer of ice
Hidden liquid water
Tidal Heating
What is Europa?
- one of Jupiter’s moon
- size of Earth’s moon: 3,100 kilometers in diameter
- Human eye: white globe
- Its surface is composed of ice: ~ 150 kilometers water layer
- Hidden liquid water
- Tidal heating:
- Image: enhanced coloring and contrast shows streaks and cracks on surface.
infrequent. The apparent youth and smoothness of the surface have led to the hypothesis that a water ocean exists beneath it, which could conceivably serve as an abode for extraterrestrial life.[12] Heat energy from tidal flexing ensures that the ocean remains liquid and drives geological activity.[13]

3. Two main kinds of terrain
Tectonic Terrain
Cracks
Ridges
Chaotic Terrain
e.g. Conamara
From images two main types of terrain make up Europa
- Tectonic Terrain: crack and ridges
- Chaotic Terrain: Conomara Choas, disrupted terrain, rafts

4. Two main kinds of terrain
Tectonic Terrain
Cracks
Ridges
Chaotic Terrain
e.g. Conamara

5. Conomara Chaos
- rafts, puzzle
Terrain we will further explore

6. Melt-through model for chaos
Tidal heating
Thinning ice
Exposed liquid
Refreezes
Lumpy Bumpy matrix
Predicts matrix is no higher than surrounding terrain
The characteristics of chaotic terrain can be explained by the melt-through model for chaos
Tidal heating:
Continous push and pull from Jupiter creates friction and stress on Europa core
Heating various regions of the ice from below
Thinning ice:
Ice begins to thin, however, thicker regions may remain unmelted
Exposed liquid:
Soon the liquid water reaches the surface, where previous terrain moves around
Refreezes:
As the terrain moves around the liquid water refreezes, filling areas of the surface, and creating a lumpy matrix.
Melt-through model predicts the new formed matrix is no higher than surrounding terrain
How do we know that?!

7. Stereography to Measure Heights
One type of measurement is sterography
Here we have two images taken by the Galileo spacecraft in 1995
Two images are of the same
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8. Stereography to Measure Heights
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9. Mapping & Plotting Horizontal offset is proportional to elevation
We measured offsets at over 700 points
Used MATLab* to create a map
*Matrix Laboratory
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10. Topography and Image, Overlay
Surface Topography

11. Conclusion Topography is consistent with melt through model
Connections through the ice help make life possible on Europa

12. Acknowledgments Richard Greenberg, LPL, University of Arizona
Barron Orr & Susan Brew, Arizona Space Grant Consortium, University of Arizona
Arizona Space Grant Consortium
Thank you for your time.