Question

Although scientists cannot see them because they are shrouded in ice and darkness, oceans underneath the crusty exteriors of several of Jupiter's moons could possess the raw materials necessary to feed hordes of creatures. What is the meaning of the word shrouded in the sentence above?

Answer 1

The word 'shrouded' means that the oceans under the ice-covered exteriors of Jupiter's moons are covered or hidden from view.

Step-by-step explanation:

The word shrouded in the given sentence refers to the oceans underneath the crusty exteriors of several of Jupiter's moons being covered or hidden from view, enveloped in ice and darkness. In the context of Jupiter's moon Europa, the icy surface conceals a suspected vast ocean, which is shrouded beneath. The tides caused by Jupiter's gravity and the resulting friction keep this hidden ocean in a liquid state, despite the cold conditions. A similar scenario exists for Enceladus, a moon of Saturn, and the presence of these subsurface oceans on various moons has sparked interest among astrobiologists in the search for extraterrestrial life.