Europa on Earth: Expedition to the Sulfur Springs of Ellesmere Island

“A four-person team departs today for an expedition to the top of the world, where mineral-rich waters seep from the top of a 200-meter-thick glacier. Sulfur-bearing compounds precipitate from the waters and stain the glacial ice of Borup Fiord Pass, marking the locations of the springs with bright yellow splotches that are easily visible from the air. The place calls to mind the ruddy, sulfur-rich stains on the surface of Jupiter’s moon Europa, and one of the expedition members is traveling there to gather samples and data that will help with the planning of future Europa missions.”

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[Source: Planetary Society]