Which Galilean moon presents geological dynamism centered around a substantial subsurface ocean beneath an icy shell?
Answer
Europa
Europa, the second Galilean moon moving outward from Io, is defined by a different form of geological dynamism centered on its substantial subsurface ocean. This ocean is believed to be maintained by tidal flexing exerted by Jupiter. Evidence such as chaotic terrain, crisscrossing lineaments, and possible plumes suggests that liquid or slushy material from this deep interior is actively migrating upward, leading to the cracking and stretching of the icy shell above, which is the basis for its cryovolcanism.
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