List_of_largest_lakes_and_seas_in_the_Solar_System

List of largest lakes and seas in the Solar System

List of largest lakes and seas in the Solar System

List of Solar System bodies of liquid

Listed below are the largest ocean, lakes and seas in the Solar System and beyond includes single bodies of water or other liquid on or near the surface of a solid round body (terrestrial planet, planetoid, or moon).

Currently, cold surface bodies of liquid are found on two worlds in the Solar System, Earth and Saturn's moon Titan.[1] Earth is the only planet with liquid water on its surface. The other "oceans" are found under thick covers of surface ice. If both liquid and frozen water are counted, Earth ranks fifth in volume of its oceans.[2] Recent studies indicate a large underground saltwater ocean present on Ganymede, Jupiter’s largest moon, with estimated water volume eight times greater than Earth’s world ocean.[3]

The fourth largest of Jupiter’s moons, Europa, while smaller than Earth’s moon, ranks fourth in water volume, estimated to be twice more than on Earth.[2] Latest analysis using data from NASA’s James Webb Space Telescope indicates that the carbon dioxide found on the icy surface of Europa likely originated in the subsurface ocean which could potentially be habitable.[4]

Scientists predict "oceans" beneath the ice of the Jupiter's moon Callisto cratered surface and the south pole of Saturn's moon Enceladus. Saturn's moon Titan is also thought to have a salty subsurface ocean of water - as salty as the Dead Sea on Earth.[3] Additionally, research suggests that Saturn's moon Mimas might be hiding a liquid water ocean beneath its impact-battered surface. A subsurface ocean at Neptune's moon Triton is considered possible as well. Mysterious fault lines on duraft planet Pluto may suggest that it has a hidden subsurface ocean.[3]

Lava lakes are found on Earth and Jupiter's moon Io. Subsurface oceans or seas are suspected to exist on some of Saturn's other moons, the asteroid Ceres, the larger trans-Neptunian objects, and ice planets in planetary systems.

Recent analysis of the interior of Ganymede suggests that it and some of the other icy bodies may not have a single interior global ocean but several stacked ones, separated by different phases of ice, with the lowest liquid layer adjacent to the rocky mantle below.[5][6]

In June 2020, NASA scientists reported that it is likely that exoplanets with oceans may be common in the Milky Way galaxy, based on mathematical modeling studies of their internal heating rates. The majority of such worlds would probably have subsurface oceans, similar to those of the icy moons Europa and Enceladus.[7][8]

List

More information Body, Type of object ...

See also

Notes

  1. Possible depending on the degree of differentiation of the interior,[16] which is uncertain.[17]

References

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    "Titan: Facts". science.nasa.gov. Retrieved 2024-03-16.
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    Walsh, Don (March 2019). "The Other Oceans in the Solar System". Proceedings. 145/3/1, 393.
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    "Ocean Worlds". Ocean Worlds. Retrieved 2024-03-16.
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    "NASA's Webb Finds Carbon Source on Surface of Jupiter's Moon Europa - NASA". 2023-09-21. Retrieved 2024-03-16.
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    Clavin, W. (2014-05-01). "Ganymede May Harbor 'Club Sandwich' of Oceans and Ice". Press release. Jet Propulsion Laboratory. Archived from the original on 2014-05-02. Retrieved 2014-05-04.
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    Shekhtman, Lonnie; et al. (18 June 2020). "Are Planets with Oceans Common in the Galaxy? It's Likely, NASA Scientists Find". NASA. Retrieved 20 June 2020.
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    Quick, L.C.; Roberge, A.; Mlinar, A.B.; Hedman, M.M. (2020). "Forecasting Rates of Volcanic Activity on Terrestrial Exoplanets and Implications for Cryovolcanic Activity on Extrasolar Ocean Worlds". Publications of the Astronomical Society of the Pacific. 132 (1014): 084402. Bibcode:2020PASP..132h4402Q. doi:10.1088/1538-3873/ab9504. S2CID 219964895.
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    "Earth Doesn't Actually Have The Most Water in The Solar System". ScienceAlert. 2016-10-09. Retrieved 2023-08-31.
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    "How Much Water is There on Earth?". USGS. Retrieved 26 March 2024.
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    Thomas, P. C.; Tajeddine, R.; Tiscareno, M. S.; Burns, J. A.; Joseph, J.; Loredo, T. J.; Helfenstein, P.; Porco, C. (2016). "Enceladus's measured physical libration requires a global subsurface ocean". Icarus. 264: 37–47. arXiv:1509.07555. Bibcode:2016Icar..264...37T. doi:10.1016/j.icarus.2015.08.037. S2CID 118429372.
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    Hussmann, H.; Sohl, F.; Spohn, T. (November 2006). "Subsurface oceans and deep interiors of medium-sized outer planet satellites and large trans-Neptunian objects". Icarus. 185 (1): 258–273. Bibcode:2006Icar..185..258H. doi:10.1016/j.icarus.2006.06.005.
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    Tortora, P.; Zannoni, M.; Hemingway, D.; Nimmo, F.; Jacobson, R. A.; Iess, L.; Parisi, M. (January 2016). "Rhea gravity field and interior modeling from Cassini data analysis". Icarus. 264: 264–273. Bibcode:2016Icar..264..264T. doi:10.1016/j.icarus.2015.09.022. hdl:11585/581818.
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    Poggiali, V.; Hayes, A.; Mastrogiuseppe, M.; Le Gall, A. A. (2019-12-01). "The Bathymetry of Moray Sinus at Kraken Mare". AGU Fall Meeting Abstracts. 23. Bibcode:2019AGUFM.P23D3540P.
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