Exploratour - Does Europa have an Ocean?
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When you think of an ocean, this is what usually comes to mind! When we discuss an ocean on Europa, this is not what we have in mind however. Any ocean on Europa would have to be under the surface. As we've said in the discussion of life on Earth, liquid water seems to be important to life. According to the Miller Urey hypothesis, the first life may have been born in the Earth's oceans. Geologists studying Europa will be looking for evidence of a sub-surface ocean, however. It is very possible that life might exist in water buried under a translucent icy crust.
To continue with this tour, just click on the forward indicator in the "football" at the top right portion of this page. To read more about the importance of an ocean to the beginnings of life on Earth, or the Miller Urey hypothesis, you may leave this tour and take the tour of Life on Earth, or read the discussion of Miller Urey, linked at the bottom of this page.
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