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Oxygen production f...
Oxygen production from dissociation of Europa’s water-ice surface
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- Szalay, J.R. (author)
- Department of Astrophysical Sciences, Princeton University, NJ, Princeton, United States
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- Allegrini, F. (author)
- Southwest Research Institute, TX, San Antonio, United States; Department of Physics and Astronomy, University of Texas at San Antonio, TX, San Antonio, United States
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- Ebert, R.W. (author)
- Southwest Research Institute, TX, San Antonio, United States; Department of Physics and Astronomy, University of Texas at San Antonio, TX, San Antonio, United States
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- Bagenal, F. (author)
- Laboratory for Atmospheric and Space Physics, University of Colorado Boulder, CO, Boulder, United States
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- Bolton, S.J. (author)
- Southwest Research Institute, TX, San Antonio, United States
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- Fatemi, Shahab (author)
- Umeå universitet,Institutionen för fysik
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- McComas, D.J. (author)
- Department of Astrophysical Sciences, Princeton University, NJ, Princeton, United States
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- Pontoni, A. (author)
- Southwest Research Institute, TX, San Antonio, United States
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- Saur, J. (author)
- Institute of Geophysics and Meteorology, University of Cologne, Cologne, Germany
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- Smith, H.T. (author)
- The Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory, MD, Baltimore, United States
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- Strobel, D.F. (author)
- The Johns Hopkins University, MD, Baltimore, United States
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- Vance, S.D. (author)
- Jet Propulsion Laboratory, California Institute of Technology, CA, Pasadena, United States
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- Vorburger, A. (author)
- Physics Institute, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
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- Wilson, R.J. (author)
- Laboratory for Atmospheric and Space Physics, University of Colorado Boulder, CO, Boulder, United States
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(creator_code:org_t)
- Springer Nature, 2024
- 2024
- English.
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In: Nature Astronomy. - : Springer Nature. - 2397-3366. ; 8:5, s. 567-576
- Related links:
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https://doi.org/10.1...
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https://umu.diva-por... (primary) (Raw object)
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Abstract
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- Jupiter’s moon Europa has a predominantly water-ice surface that is modified by exposure to its space environment. Charged particles break molecular bonds in surface ice, thus dissociating the water to ultimately produce H2 and O2, which provides a potential oxygenation mechanism for Europa’s subsurface ocean. These species are understood to form Europa’s primary atmospheric constituents. Although remote observations provide important global constraints on Europa’s atmosphere, the molecular O2 abundance has been inferred from atomic O emissions. Europa’s atmospheric composition had never been directly sampled and model-derived oxygen production estimates ranged over several orders of magnitude. Here, we report direct observations of H2+ and O2+ pickup ions from the dissociation of Europa’s water-ice surface and confirm these species are primary atmospheric constituents. In contrast to expectations, we find the H2 neutral atmosphere is dominated by a non-thermal, escaping population. We find 12 ± 6 kg s−1 (2.2 ± 1.2 × 1026 s−1) O2 are produced within Europa’s surface, less than previously thought, with a narrower range to support habitability in Europa’s ocean. This process is found to be Europa’s dominant exogenic surface erosion mechanism over meteoroid bombardment.
Subject headings
- NATURVETENSKAP -- Geovetenskap och miljövetenskap -- Meteorologi och atmosfärforskning (hsv//swe)
- NATURAL SCIENCES -- Earth and Related Environmental Sciences -- Meteorology and Atmospheric Sciences (hsv//eng)
- NATURVETENSKAP -- Fysik -- Astronomi, astrofysik och kosmologi (hsv//swe)
- NATURAL SCIENCES -- Physical Sciences -- Astronomy, Astrophysics and Cosmology (hsv//eng)
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- By the author/editor
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Szalay, J.R.
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Allegrini, F.
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Ebert, R.W.
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Bagenal, F.
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Bolton, S.J.
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Fatemi, Shahab
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show more...
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McComas, D.J.
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Pontoni, A.
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Saur, J.
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Smith, H.T.
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Strobel, D.F.
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Vance, S.D.
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Vorburger, A.
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Wilson, R.J.
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- About the subject
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- NATURAL SCIENCES
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NATURAL SCIENCES
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and Earth and Relate ...
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and Meteorology and ...
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- NATURAL SCIENCES
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NATURAL SCIENCES
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and Physical Science ...
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and Astronomy Astrop ...
- Articles in the publication
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Nature Astronomy
- By the university
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Umeå University