by Chris Peterson » Sun Dec 15, 2013 5:01 pm
stephen63 wrote:Chris Peterson wrote:stephen63 wrote:From what I can tell, it's believed that the liquid ocean on Europa is 100km deep, which would probably make it global. If there were life there, then it would necessarily be expelled through a geyser, wouldn't it? It would be a lot easier to look there than going through all that ice.
Very likely. But the important point is that while there is good reason to believe there is a liquid ocean beneath the ice, it remains far from certain. The possibility that the ice extends to the underlying rock remains.
True, but the best explanation for the lineae being global would be water, or at least warm ice filling the cracks of surface ice that has shifted.
I don't know if I'd go so far as to say that's the best explanation, just that it's a good one.
Don't think I'm arguing against a subsurface sea on Europa. In fact, I think the best evidence supports that conclusion. I'm simply pointing out that there remains a good deal of uncertainty in the matter, and as good skeptics we shouldn't get too enamored of our beliefs.
[quote="stephen63"][quote="Chris Peterson"][quote="stephen63"]From what I can tell, it's believed that the liquid ocean on Europa is 100km deep, which would probably make it global. If there were life there, then it would necessarily be expelled through a geyser, wouldn't it? It would be a lot easier to look there than going through all that ice.[/quote]
Very likely. But the important point is that while there is good reason to believe there is a liquid ocean beneath the ice, it remains far from certain. The possibility that the ice extends to the underlying rock remains.[/quote]
True, but the best explanation for the lineae being global would be water, or at least warm ice filling the cracks of surface ice that has shifted.[/quote]
I don't know if I'd go so far as to say that's the best explanation, just that it's a good one.
Don't think I'm arguing against a subsurface sea on Europa. In fact, I think the best evidence supports that conclusion. I'm simply pointing out that there remains a good deal of uncertainty in the matter, and as good skeptics we shouldn't get too enamored of our beliefs.