Fall 2010 Colloquium Abstracts - Mikhail Zolotov

September 29, 2010

Water Oceans in the Solar System and Beyond

Mikhail Zolotov (Arizona State University)

Although the Earth’s ocean is unique, liquid water layers could exist on many other bodies in the solar system and in other planetary systems. Surface water reservoirs may have existed on Venus, Mars, and the Jovian satellite Io, as suggested from geological and geochemical footprints. Icy moons of giant planets (Europa, Ganymede, Enceladus, Titan, Triton, etc.) and large trans-Neptunian objects could have subsurface oceans at present. Recently detected emissions of salt grains from some bodies and diverse remote sensing data provide information about oceanic compositions. Throughout the universe, oceans would differ in appearance, heat sources, volumes, temperature, pressure, composition, salinity, and habitability. I will review the emerging discipline of extraterrestrial oceanology and discuss factors that affect the formation, physical-chemical evolution, and current state of the oceans. Recognizing the broad picture could help us to understand history of our own ocean and forthcoming global changes.