Project description
Identifying spectral signatures of ice formed by leaking oceans
Icy moons in our solar system hide vast oceans beneath thick ice crusts. These buried oceans are prime targets in the search for extraterrestrial life and major priorities for ESA and NASA. Although we cannot yet reach them directly, they can be studied because ocean material leaks to the surface and becomes ice. Oceans reach the surface through plumes on Enceladus, by spilling through cracks on Europa or by volatile molecules diffusing upward through the ice on several icy moons. The ERC-funded LeakingOceans project aims to identify the spectral signatures of ice formed by these leaking processes. Understanding how buried oceans become surface ice will reveal their composition and guide future exploration missions.
Objective
In our solar system, most of the oceans are covered by kilometers of ices. These buried oceans, considered amongst the most promising places to host extraterrestrial life, are now a priority in both ESA and NASA’s programs for in situ observations with landing missions. To prepare for these programs, and the scientific return of current/future missions, we need to understand how buried oceans interact with the surface, the paths to reach them, and whether we can know more about their composition and physical conditions before visiting them. In fact, while these oceans are buried under a crust of kilometers thick ice, they manage to leak to the surface and can be indirectly observed in several ways. Ocean water escape through geysers (plume) on the Saturnian moon Enceladus, subsurface fluids spill over onto the surface of the Gallilean moon Europa, or subsurface materials (ocean) lose some molecules that diffuse through the ice until reaching the surface where they are observed as ice. In parallel, James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) observations of the moons Ganymede and Europa have reported spectra showing subtle variations within the moon surface that are difficult to interpret but likely linked to the formation and evolution of surface ices. The aim of LeakingOceans is to determine the spectral signatures of ices produced by leaking oceans (plume, spilling or diffusion) allowing to identify these leaks in the observations. For this purpose, the processes by which buried oceans become surface ice will be studied experimentally and theoretically to obtain ices’ characteristics and spectral signatures. These tools will be instrumental for searching plumes on Europa or other moons. By determining signature and efficiency of the oceans’ leaks on icy moons, we will (1) understand the dynamics between oceans and surfaces of icy moons (2) deduce the composition and conditions present in these ocean worlds and (3) provide ways to reach these oceans for future exploration.
Fields of science (EuroSciVoc)
CORDIS classifies projects with EuroSciVoc, a multilingual taxonomy of fields of science, through a semi-automatic process based on NLP techniques. See: The European Science Vocabulary.
CORDIS classifies projects with EuroSciVoc, a multilingual taxonomy of fields of science, through a semi-automatic process based on NLP techniques. See: The European Science Vocabulary.
You need to log in or register to use this function
Keywords
Project’s keywords as indicated by the project coordinator. Not to be confused with the EuroSciVoc taxonomy (Fields of science)
Project’s keywords as indicated by the project coordinator. Not to be confused with the EuroSciVoc taxonomy (Fields of science)
Programme(s)
Multi-annual funding programmes that define the EU’s priorities for research and innovation.
Multi-annual funding programmes that define the EU’s priorities for research and innovation.
-
HORIZON.1.1 - European Research Council (ERC)
MAIN PROGRAMME
See all projects funded under this programme
Topic(s)
Calls for proposals are divided into topics. A topic defines a specific subject or area for which applicants can submit proposals. The description of a topic comprises its specific scope and the expected impact of the funded project.
Calls for proposals are divided into topics. A topic defines a specific subject or area for which applicants can submit proposals. The description of a topic comprises its specific scope and the expected impact of the funded project.
Funding Scheme
Funding scheme (or “Type of Action”) inside a programme with common features. It specifies: the scope of what is funded; the reimbursement rate; specific evaluation criteria to qualify for funding; and the use of simplified forms of costs like lump sums.
Funding scheme (or “Type of Action”) inside a programme with common features. It specifies: the scope of what is funded; the reimbursement rate; specific evaluation criteria to qualify for funding; and the use of simplified forms of costs like lump sums.
HORIZON-ERC - HORIZON ERC Grants
See all projects funded under this funding scheme
Call for proposal
Procedure for inviting applicants to submit project proposals, with the aim of receiving EU funding.
Procedure for inviting applicants to submit project proposals, with the aim of receiving EU funding.
(opens in new window) ERC-2024-ADG
See all projects funded under this callHost institution
Net EU financial contribution. The sum of money that the participant receives, deducted by the EU contribution to its linked third party. It considers the distribution of the EU financial contribution between direct beneficiaries of the project and other types of participants, like third-party participants.
2628 CN Delft
Netherlands
The total costs incurred by this organisation to participate in the project, including direct and indirect costs. This amount is a subset of the overall project budget.