New estimates for Io eruption temperatures: Implications for the interior (original) (raw)
NASA/ADS
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Abstract
The initial interpretation of Galileo data from Jupiter's moon, Io, suggested eruption temperatures ⩾1600°C. Tidal heating models have difficulties explaining Io's prodigious heat flow if the mantle is >1300°C, although we suggest that temperatures up to ∼1450°C may be possible. In general, Io eruption temperatures have been overestimated because the incorrect thermal model has been applied. Much of the thermal emission from high-temperature hot spots comes from lava fountains but lava flow models were utilized. We apply a new lava fountain model to the highest reported eruption temperature, the SSI observation of the 1997 eruption at Pillan. This resets the lower temperature limit for the eruption from ∼1600 to ∼1340°C. Additionally, viscous heating of the magma may have increased eruption temperature by ∼50-100°C as a result of the strong compressive stresses in the ionian lithosphere. While further work is needed, it appears that the discrepancy between observations and interior models is largely resolved.
Publication:
Icarus
Pub Date:
December 2007
DOI:
Bibcode: