<p>The surface of Europa gets some sunlight direct from the sun and some long wave radiation from Jupiter so it's not in darkness.  It's also in <a href="https://www.astrobio.net/news-exclusive/hiding-from-jupiters-radiation/" rel="nofollow noreferrer">Jupiter's radiation belt</a> so it gets hit with high energy charged particles and the surface of Europa, despite being bombarded by particles is still a vacuum.  The surface of Europa is a terrible place to look for life, with the exception being that the liquid ocean of Europa explodes onto it's surface regularly, so evidence of life, if it exists, may well be found on the surface, but it's unlikely that anything can live there for long.  It's very inhospitable.</p>

<p>The inside of Europa is more interesting.  That's why Neil deGrass Tyson says he wants to go "<a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/neil-degrasse-tyson-on-colbert-late-show-2015-10" rel="nofollow noreferrer">ice fishing on Europa</a>" to see what "licks the camera" and if we find life there we'll "Call them Europeans" . . . funny comments aside, the inside of Europa is probably dark, outside of some infra-red rays due to temperature.   Photosynthesis doesn't work well in darkness and with just long wave light, though maybe it's possible, it wouldn't nearly as much growth due to far lower energy levels.</p>

<p>As noted <a href="https://astronomy.stackexchange.com/questions/28503/what-is-the-underwater-temperature-of-europa">in the answer</a> to your other question, if there is life in Europa's ocean, it's more likely to be something like <a href="https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chemotroph" rel="nofollow noreferrer">chemotrophs</a>. </p>

<p>What makes Europa interesting is the energy it gets from tidal forces being stretched between Jupiter and Ganymede, so it gets a regular influx of heat and perhaps internal volcanism, so it may have undersea vents similar to our oceans.   The energy influx and possibility of underwater volcanoes makes it more interesting than most other moons or dwarf planets.</p>

<p>If life is found in Europa's oceans, even if it's very primitive life by most standards, it would still be a very cool discovery because it could tell us something about how life starts and that's a big unknown right now.  The discovery of life outside the Earth would be a very big story.</p>

<p>We'll probably have to <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Europa_Lander_(NASA)" rel="nofollow noreferrer">wait till 2030</a> before we begin to get some answers.  Sorry for the long wait, but it is what it is.</p>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2018-11-28T21:01:31.543Z
2018-11-28T21:01:31.543Z
userLTK
<p><a href="https://astronomy.stackexchange.com/questions/28503/what-is-the-underwater-temperature-of-europa">What is the underwater temperature of Europa?</a></p>

<p>I know Jupiter emits infrared light but does it emit any light able to support plant life of any type on near by Moons? Can under water volcanic activity of Europa produce enough light to support plant life?</p>

<p><a href="https://i.sstatic.net/TaenC.jpg" rel="nofollow noreferrer"><img src="https://i.sstatic.net/TaenC.jpg" alt="enter image description here"></a></p>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2018-11-28T15:55:45.857Z
Jupiter doesn't emit visible light. It does emit thermal radiation and radio waves, but plants don't use that.
David Hammen
CC BY-SA 4.0
2018-11-28T16:40:30.703Z
The question seems flawed.   Earth doesn't emit enough light to grow plants, it receives an abundance of light from the Sun.    Jupiter receives much less and it also has a thick, constant cloud cover and no surface on which for plants to grow.
userLTK
CC BY-SA 4.0
2018-11-28T16:42:12.923Z
Your edit seems to be bringing the question closer to your other one.  Europa receives some light from the Sun, but that light doesn't penetrate it's icy crust, so Europa's oceans are dark.    You won't find any plants in the sense that we think of them on Jupiter or Europa.  https://astronomy.stackexchange.com/questions/28503/what-is-the-underwater-temperature-of-europa
userLTK
CC BY-SA 4.0
2018-11-28T16:45:43.460Z
@userLTK is this better?
Muze
CC BY-SA 4.0
2018-11-28T17:46:51.563Z
@userLTK Jupiter emits far more energy than it receives from the Sun.
ProfRob
CC BY-SA 4.0
2018-11-28T17:57:36.910Z
@RobJeffries Good point.   But the question specifically says light for plants and dismisses infrared light.    I'm not sure a question about the longest possible wavelength for photosynthesis fits on this board, but now I'm curious.
userLTK
CC BY-SA 4.0
2018-11-28T18:01:33.137Z
Underwater volcanoes don't emit light.   Some types of deep sea fish emit their own light in the deep ocean where there's no natural light, called bioluminescence, but that's unlikely in Europa because that's several steps up the evolutionary chain.
userLTK
CC BY-SA 4.0
2018-12-22T06:56:11.377Z
What [herbs](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uyAFnV90Wqc&t=40) are you planning on growing there ? :-)
Lucian
<light><jupiter><natural-satellites><life><europa>
Is there enough light to grow plants in the ocean of Europa?
Muze
# Is there enough light to grow plants in the ocean of Europa?

(Asked by: username_0 on 2018-11-28)

[What is the underwater temperature of Europa?](https://astronomy.stackexchange.com/questions/28503/what-is-the-underwater-temperature-of-europa)

I know Jupiter emits infrared light but does it emit any light able to support plant life of any type on near by Moons? Can under water volcanic activity of Europa produce enough light to support plant life?

[![enter image description here](https://i.sstatic.net/TaenC.jpg)](https://i.sstatic.net/TaenC.jpg)

**Tags:** light, jupiter, natural-satellites, life, europa

> **Comments:**
> **username_1**: Jupiter doesn't emit visible light. It does emit thermal radiation and radio waves, but plants don't use that.  
> **username_2**: The question seems flawed.   Earth doesn't emit enough light to grow plants, it receives an abundance of light from the Sun.    Jupiter receives much less and it also has a thick, constant cloud cover and no surface on which for plants to grow.  
> **username_2**: Your edit seems to be bringing the question closer to your other one.  Europa receives some light from the Sun, but that light doesn't penetrate it's icy crust, so Europa's oceans are dark.    You won't find any plants in the sense that we think of them on Jupiter or Europa.  https://astronomy.stackexchange.com/questions/28503/what-is-the-underwater-temperature-of-europa  
> **username_0**: @username_2 is this better?  
> **username_3**: @username_2 Jupiter emits far more energy than it receives from the Sun.  
> **username_2**: @RobJeffries Good point.   But the question specifically says light for plants and dismisses infrared light.    I'm not sure a question about the longest possible wavelength for photosynthesis fits on this board, but now I'm curious.  
> **username_2**: Underwater volcanoes don't emit light.   Some types of deep sea fish emit their own light in the deep ocean where there's no natural light, called bioluminescence, but that's unlikely in Europa because that's several steps up the evolutionary chain.  
> **username_4**: What [herbs](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uyAFnV90Wqc&t=40) are you planning on growing there ? :-)  

---

## 1 answers

### Answer by username_2 on 2018-11-28. Score: 3 | Accepted answer

The surface of Europa gets some sunlight direct from the sun and some long wave radiation from Jupiter so it's not in darkness. It's also in [Jupiter's radiation belt](https://www.astrobio.net/news-exclusive/hiding-from-jupiters-radiation/) so it gets hit with high energy charged particles and the surface of Europa, despite being bombarded by particles is still a vacuum. The surface of Europa is a terrible place to look for life, with the exception being that the liquid ocean of Europa explodes onto it's surface regularly, so evidence of life, if it exists, may well be found on the surface, but it's unlikely that anything can live there for long. It's very inhospitable.

The inside of Europa is more interesting. That's why Neil deGrass Tyson says he wants to go "[ice fishing on Europa](https://www.businessinsider.com/neil-degrasse-tyson-on-colbert-late-show-2015-10)" to see what "licks the camera" and if we find life there we'll "Call them Europeans" . . . funny comments aside, the inside of Europa is probably dark, outside of some infra-red rays due to temperature. Photosynthesis doesn't work well in darkness and with just long wave light, though maybe it's possible, it wouldn't nearly as much growth due to far lower energy levels.

As noted [in the answer](https://astronomy.stackexchange.com/questions/28503/what-is-the-underwater-temperature-of-europa) to your other question, if there is life in Europa's ocean, it's more likely to be something like [chemotrophs](https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chemotroph).

What makes Europa interesting is the energy it gets from tidal forces being stretched between Jupiter and Ganymede, so it gets a regular influx of heat and perhaps internal volcanism, so it may have undersea vents similar to our oceans. The energy influx and possibility of underwater volcanoes makes it more interesting than most other moons or dwarf planets.

If life is found in Europa's oceans, even if it's very primitive life by most standards, it would still be a very cool discovery because it could tell us something about how life starts and that's a big unknown right now. The discovery of life outside the Earth would be a very big story.

We'll probably have to [wait till 2030](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Europa_Lander_(NASA)) before we begin to get some answers. Sorry for the long wait, but it is what it is.


---

