Probing liquid water beyond Earth with advanced radar technology

Madrid, Spain (SPX) Apr 22, 2024
Liquid water is a primary indicator of potential life on other planets. Key celestial bodies within our solar system, such as Saturn's moon Enceladus and Jupiter's moons Ganymede, Europa, and Callisto, are believed to contain oceans beneath their icy exteriors. This concept extends to certain exoplanets where conditions may also support liquid water, a crucial component for sustaining life. Detecting water on these distant planets and moons is a formidable challenge, given our inability to access them directly. However, ice-penetrating radar, a sophisticated geophysical method, has been successfully utilized to identify sub-surface liquid water on Earth and beneath the southern polar cap of Mars.

This technology is now integral to the JUICE mission to Ganymede and the upcoming Europa Clipper mission to Europa. Dr. Elena Pettinelli of Roma Tre University, a seasoned expert in planetary exploration using ice-penetrating radar, will soon highlight the potential insights these missions could provide during her upcoming presentation at the European Geosciences Union General Assembly EGU24.

Dr. Pettinelli's prior work includes contributing to the discovery of a stable subglacial water body on Mars. She plans to outline the historical and future applications of ice-penetrating radar in space exploration, focusing on how this technology helps map and analyze liquid water reserves.

The application of ice-penetrating radar is anticipated to reveal the depth and composition of sub-surface water on Jupiter's moons. Dr. Pettinelli notes that the radar's efficacy is influenced by the salinity of the ice, which can hinder radar signals. "By analyzing the response of radio waves, we can better understand salt distribution," she mentions. These findings are further verified through lab experiments by her team.

Dr. Pettinelli emphasizes the importance of this research: "Our knowledge of water distribution in the solar system has grown significantly, and it's fascinating to utilize this technology to pinpoint potential water locations," she concludes.

Research Report:In search for liquid water using radio waves: from Earth to the icy moons of Jupiter