All articles tagged with #ice chemistry
New research shows that ice can dissolve iron minerals more effectively than liquid water, especially during freeze-thaw cycles, which may explain the orange coloration of Arctic rivers as the planet warms. This process has significant implications for water quality and ecosystems, highlighting ice as an active chemical player in environmental changes caused by climate change.
New observations from the James Webb Space Telescope reveal that Europa's icy surface is dynamic and connected to a subsurface ocean, with evidence of geologic activity, chemical signatures like sodium chloride and CO2, and potential habitability, supporting the presence of a vast liquid ocean beneath its ice shell.
New observations from the James Webb Space Telescope reveal that Europa's icy surface is dynamic and geologically active, with evidence suggesting a subsurface ocean nearly 30 kilometers deep. The study highlights the presence of crystalline ice, sodium chloride, CO2, and hydrogen peroxide, indicating complex chemistry and ongoing geological processes that could support habitability. These findings support the hypothesis of a liquid ocean beneath Europa's ice shell, with upcoming NASA missions like Europa Clipper set to further explore this intriguing moon.