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| Paper: |
Identifying Cold Ocean Planets and Characterizing Their Geologic Activity |
| Monograph: |
10, HWO25 Proceedings Part I: Community Science Case Development Documents |
| Page: |
521 |
| Authors: |
Lynnae Quick, Jessica L. Noviello, and Apurva V. Oza |
| DOI: |
10.26624/JVGI3920 |
| Abstract: |
Ocean worlds in the Solar System are places where biosignatures are most likely to be found outside of Earth due to the presence of liquid water within them. Several of these bodies exhibit geological activity in the form of effusive and explosive cryovolcanism. Explosive cryovolcanism in the form of geyser-like plumes is ongoing on Enceladus and detections by the Hubble Space Telescope and the Keck Observatory suggest that Europa may also have geyser-like plumes that erupt intermittently. We propose utilizing the Habitable Worlds Observatory to investigate the prevalence of ice-covered ocean worlds in other planetary systems and to search for signs of geological activity on these planets. Here we present the scientific background and justification for these investigations, and introduce parameters for proposed observations. |
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