New research from NASA shows that Earth might not be the only body in the solar system that experiences earthquakes. Upon looking at photos that NASA's Galileo orbiter took around 2003, researchers noticed signs of tectonic plates in Jupiter's moon, Europa. Scientists had not previously discovered such signs on any other body in the solar system besides Earth.
The study, led by Simon Kattenhorn and Louise Prockter, show that plates under Europa shift and expand, forming new land in ways similar to how tectonic plates on Earth formed the surface of our world as it is today.
"We have been puzzled for years as to how all this new terrain could be formed, but we couldn't figure out how it was accommodated," said Prockter. "We finally think we've found the answer."
Tectonic plates are like shifting blocks that lie just under the surface of the Earth, moving land around from time to time. Scientists attributed the current layout of the land on our surface to the movement of these plates. They theorize that at one time, all of the land on Earth formed one gigantic continent, Pangea, but the movement of tectonic plates broke up the continent and moved the land until it became what it is today - seven continents divided by seas and oceans. However, scientists weren't sure if any other planets or bodies in the solar system experienced the same shifting plates. This new study provides evidence that Earth may not be alone.
Scientists also credit tectonic plates as the reason behind volcano and mountain formation and other geographic anomalies on our planet's surface. Looking at Europa's ridged surface, they now speculate that the moon's anomalies are likely the result of these same plate movements. When two plates meet, surface area is shoved under other surfaces, creating cracked, ridged terrain. This theory also explains why the research team found that over 12,000 square miles seem to have disappeared from the moon's surface.
"Europa may be more Earth-like than we imagined, if it has a global plate tectonic system," Kattenhorn said. "Not only does this discovery make it one of the most geologically interesting bodies in the solar system, it also implies two-way communication between the exterior and interior -- a way to move material from the surface into the ocean -- a process which has significant implications for Europa's potential as a habitable world."
NASA is currently collecting applications for scientists who have ideas on how to study Europa.
