Acidification of Europa's Subsurface Ocean as a Consequence of Oxidant Delivery

Matthew A. Pasek; Richard Greenberg

doi:10.1089/ast.2011.0666

Acidification of Europa's Subsurface Ocean as a Consequence of Oxidant Delivery

Matthew A. Pasek, Richard Greenberg

University of South Florida

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

Abstract

Oxidants are formed at the surface of Europa and may be delivered to the subsurface ocean, possibly in great quantities. Whether these substances would be available for biological metabolism is uncertain, because they may react with sulfides and other compounds to generate sulfuric and other acids. If this process has been active on Europa for much of its age, then not only would it rob the ocean of life-supporting oxidants but the subsurface ocean could have a pH of ∼2.6, which is so acidic as to present an environmental challenge for life, unless organisms consume or sequester the oxidants fast enough to ameliorate the acidification.

Original language	American English
Journal	Astrobiology
Volume	12
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1089/ast.2011.0666
State	Published - Feb 1 2012

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title = "Acidification of Europa's Subsurface Ocean as a Consequence of Oxidant Delivery",

abstract = " Oxidants are formed at the surface of Europa and may be delivered to the subsurface ocean, possibly in great quantities. Whether these substances would be available for biological metabolism is uncertain, because they may react with sulfides and other compounds to generate sulfuric and other acids. If this process has been active on Europa for much of its age, then not only would it rob the ocean of life-supporting oxidants but the subsurface ocean could have a pH of ∼2.6, which is so acidic as to present an environmental challenge for life, unless organisms consume or sequester the oxidants fast enough to ameliorate the acidification.",

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AB - Oxidants are formed at the surface of Europa and may be delivered to the subsurface ocean, possibly in great quantities. Whether these substances would be available for biological metabolism is uncertain, because they may react with sulfides and other compounds to generate sulfuric and other acids. If this process has been active on Europa for much of its age, then not only would it rob the ocean of life-supporting oxidants but the subsurface ocean could have a pH of ∼2.6, which is so acidic as to present an environmental challenge for life, unless organisms consume or sequester the oxidants fast enough to ameliorate the acidification.

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Acidification of Europa's Subsurface Ocean as a Consequence of Oxidant Delivery

Abstract

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