Europa's Ocean Affects Its Rotation

NASA scientists have found evidence that Jupiter's moon Europa has an internal ocean under its icy outer shell. This enormous body of salty water could be pushing the ice shell along, potentially affecting the moon's rotation. Europa's shell is known to be free-floating, rotating at a different rate than the ocean below and the rocky interior. The new computer modeling is the first to show that Europa's ocean currents could be contributing to the rotation of its icy shell. This research also hints at how the power of the ocean flow and its drag against the ice layer could account for some of the geology seen on Europa's surface. Scientists believe that the Europa Clipper mission, set to launch in 2024, may be able to determine with precision how fast the icy shell rotates. Who knows what other surprises await us as we continue to unravel the mysteries of our solar system and the potential for life beyond Earth. #europa #science #shorts Subscribe to Science Time: https://www.youtube.com/sciencetime24