Plains and Ridges on Europa
The ridges on Europa may be caused by cold water volcanoes.
Europa, one of the largest moons of
Jupiter, has been the source of intense scrutiny since
speculation increased of there being
oceans beneath its
icy surface.
Currently the
Galileo spacecraft orbiting Jupiter is on an
extended mission designed, in part, to study
Europa's surface in greater detail.
The above image highlights features common to
Europa's surface:
pure blue water ice beneath lighter
ridges that run for many kilometers.
These
ridges may result from volcanic cracks in the ice
where emerging liquid water froze upon exposure
to the cold of deep space.
The reasons for the colors of the ridges remain uncertain.