Ice, Oceans, and Life in the Universe: What can we learn from planetary ice shells?

Speaker: Dr. Nicole Shibley, DAMTP & Department of Earth Sciences, University of Cambridge
Series: Cambridge University Astronomical Society (CUAS)

Ice-ocean interactions, in both geophysical and astrophysical contexts, inform our understanding of habitability and life in the Universe. On Earth, they are key to understanding climate change; in other planetary systems, they are fundamental to the search for extraterrestrial life. But what can we learn about an ocean when it is covered in ice, and how? Here we will discuss how modeling of Earth's polar ice-covered regions may provide insight on ice-ocean processes on icy moons in the Solar System, where in-situ measurements are unavailable. We will then draw inferences to early Earth and exoplanetary systems. Finally, we will explore how open questions across a diversity of planetary settings demonstrate many rich possibilities for future research on habitability and life in the Universe.