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Published September 2018 | Published
Conference Paper Open

Observational constraints on the distribution and temperature dependence of H_2O_2 on the surface of Europa

Abstract

We use Keck NIRSPEC to investigate the geographic distribution of hydrogen peroxide, a potentially biologically important oxidant, on the surface of Europa. Contrary to expectation, we see the highest abundances at low latitudes, potentially correlated with geologically young chaos terrain. We also use NASA IRTF SpeX spectra of Europa before and after eclipse to investigate the extent to which temperature controls equilibrium hydrogen peroxide concentrations on the surface. During eclipse, Europa's surface temperature falls 10-20 K. If temperature were a significant control on peroxide concentrations, then the hydrogen peroxide band strengths should be different pre- and post-eclipse. Ultimately, these investigations will help further our understanding of the surface, and perhaps subsurface, composition of Europa.

Additional Information

© Author(s) 2018. S. K. Trumbo is supported through a NASA Earth and Space Sciences Fellowship (NESSF). K. de Kleer is supported via the 51 Pegasi b Fellowship Program.

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Published - EPSC2018-203-1.pdf

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Created:
August 19, 2023
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