Plate tectonics refers to the movement of a planet or moon’s crust, with Earth and Europa being the only known celestial bodies with this feature. Earth’s rocky plates have caused geological features, while Europa’s icy plates could make it habitable.
“Plate tectonics” refers to when the outer layer of a celestial body, such as a planet or moon, is made up of a crust of plates that move over time. The only known celestial bodies with plate tectonics are Earth and one of Jupiter’s moons, Europa. The Earth’s plates are made up of rocky plates that are thought to have shifted throughout history, causing earthquakes and resulting in separate continents, volcanoes and mountains. Europa is also thought to have plate tectonics, but with a crust made of ice rather than rocks. Some scientists believe this means it could be suitable for human habitation.
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Plate tectonics on Earth causes carbon from the atmosphere to be absorbed and returned to the ground; otherwise, the planet could overheat due to greenhouse gas emissions.
Europa’s ice sheets are estimated to be one of the youngest surfaces in the solar system at between 40 million and 90 million years old.
An area in Chile known as the Chilean Margin Triple Junction hosts the only active modern example of plate tectonics, with plate displacement of approximately 3.15 mm (80 in) per year.
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