Io volcanism
Conference
·
· Geol. Soc. Am., Abstr. Programs; (United States)
OSTI ID:6610099
Io is the most volcanically active body in the Solar System. The Voyage spacecraft observed nine active eruption plumes in 1979, and detected numerous thermal anomalies. Loki the most active volcanic region has been emitting 1.5 x 10/sup 13/ W over the last few years. Many of the volcanic features have been interpreted as the result of sulfur volcanism because 1) the spectral reflectance of the surface resembles sulfur, 2) SO/sub 2/ has been positively identified, 3) the satellite leaves a trail of sulfur atoms in its wake; and 4) many of the hot spots have surfaces temperatures less than 400/sup 0/K, compatible with low-temperature melts. The evidence for sulfur has led to suggestions of sulfur lava flows hundreds of kilometers long, and sulfur lava lakes as large as Lake Erie. The observations are, however, equally compatible with basaltic volcanism. Modeling of the cooling of basaltic lava flows indicates that regions of basaltic volcanism on Io should have temperatures similar to those detected by the Voyager spacecraft. High eruption rates are required. High rates of fumarolic activity accompanying the eruptions and expulsion of volatiles by the plumes give the surface its sulfur-like spectral reflectance.
- Research Organization:
- Geological Survey, Menlo Park, CA (USA)
- OSTI ID:
- 6610099
- Report Number(s):
- CONF-8510489-
- Conference Information:
- Journal Name: Geol. Soc. Am., Abstr. Programs; (United States) Journal Volume: 17
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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Related Subjects
58 GEOSCIENCES
580202 -- Geophysics-- Volcanology-- (1980-1989)
640107* -- Astrophysics & Cosmology-- Planetary Phenomena
71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS
GENERAL PHYSICS
ASTEROIDS
BASALT
CHALCOGENIDES
CHEMISTRY
COSMOCHEMISTRY
ELEMENTS
ERUPTION
FLUIDS
FUMAROLES
FUMAROLIC FLUIDS
GEOTHERMAL FLUIDS
IGNEOUS ROCKS
LAVA
METEORITES
NONMETALS
OXIDES
OXYGEN COMPOUNDS
ROCKS
SATELLITES
SULFUR
SULFUR COMPOUNDS
SULFUR DIOXIDE
SULFUR OXIDES
VOLCANIC ROCKS
VOLCANISM
VOLCANOES
580202 -- Geophysics-- Volcanology-- (1980-1989)
640107* -- Astrophysics & Cosmology-- Planetary Phenomena
71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS
GENERAL PHYSICS
ASTEROIDS
BASALT
CHALCOGENIDES
CHEMISTRY
COSMOCHEMISTRY
ELEMENTS
ERUPTION
FLUIDS
FUMAROLES
FUMAROLIC FLUIDS
GEOTHERMAL FLUIDS
IGNEOUS ROCKS
LAVA
METEORITES
NONMETALS
OXIDES
OXYGEN COMPOUNDS
ROCKS
SATELLITES
SULFUR
SULFUR COMPOUNDS
SULFUR DIOXIDE
SULFUR OXIDES
VOLCANIC ROCKS
VOLCANISM
VOLCANOES