Variable Salinity and Hydrogen Production in Europa's Ocean
E. M. Spiers,
B. E. Schmidt
Abstract:Europa's long‐term habitability depends on thermodynamics—modulated by tidal evolution—and geochemical pathways that define chemical and energy inventories for use by putative biology. Hydrogen produced from the reaction of water and rock during serpentinization is one potential source of metabolic energy. Here, we demonstrate how thermally modulated volumetric changes to Europa's ice shell, ocean, and fluid‐accessible rocky mantle influence oceanic salinity and serpentinization rates in Europa's interior. Dur… Show more
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