罗格斯大学研究人员通过计算机模拟发现，木卫二深层海洋的水很难通过冰壳裂隙上升到浅层[1]。模拟结果表明，上升的水会因为湍流而迅速失热，形成冰晶并堵塞裂隙，在某些情况下仅需数小时就能完全冻结[1]。这一发现发表于《自然天文学》期刊[1]。
该研究负责人、罗格斯大学地球与行星科学系副教授卢真德拉·欧佳指出："我们的工作表明木卫二的冰壳可能是比以前假设的更强的屏障"[1]。这意味着未来探测器在木卫二浅层发现的液态水可能并非来自深层海洋，而是冰壳局部融化形成，这将显著改变科学家对木卫二宜居潜力的理解[1]。
上述发现恰逢木卫二探测任务的筹备阶段。美国国家航空航天局的木卫二探测器（Europa Clipper）于2024年10月发射，预计2030年4月到达木星[1]；欧洲航天局的木星冰月探测器（JUICE）于2023年4月发射，预计2031年7月到达木星[1]。
Scientists at Rutgers University have discovered through computer simulations that water from Europa's deep ocean may have difficulty reaching the moon's shallow layers through cracks in its icy shell.[1] The research shows that rising water would lose heat rapidly due to turbulence, form ice crystals, and potentially clog the fissures—in some cases within just a few hours.[1] This finding suggests that any shallow liquid water detected by future missions might originate from localized melting of the ice shell rather than from the deeper ocean, fundamentally altering scientific understanding of Europa's potential habitability.[1]
The study, led by Lujendra Ojha, an associate professor in Rutgers' Department of Earth and Planetary Sciences, has been published in Nature Astronomy.[1] According to Ojha, "our work suggests that Europa's ice shell may be a stronger barrier than previously assumed."[1] These results carry significant implications for upcoming missions to Jupiter's system, including NASA's Europa Clipper, which launched in October 2024 and is scheduled to arrive at Jupiter in April 2030, and the European Space Agency's JUICE (Jupiter Icy Moons Explorer), which launched in April 2023 and is expected to reach Jupiter in July 2031.[1]