Io is the most volcanically active body in the Solar System, driven by tidal heating from gravitational interactions with Jupiter and other large moons. The moon’s surface hosts more than 400 paterae—volcanic depressions where heat and lava emerge—reflecting long-term, intense geologic activity. Two reports describe a new analysis from a paper posted as a preprint on arXiv that re-evaluates how much thermal power these paterae produce. Using observations from NASA’s Juno spacecraft, the study relies on data from the Jupiter Infrared Auroral Mapper (JIRAM), an instrument designed to measure infrared emissions. The researchers’ interpretation is that prior estimates have likely been too low, implying that the thermal output associated with Io’s volcanic regions has been “massively underestimated” for decades. The reports do not provide additional numerical results in the shared text, but they broadly agree on the approach: combining Io’s high level of volcanism and its many paterae with JIRAM infrared measurements to revise estimates of the moon’s heat production.
Study using Juno data suggests Io’s volcanic power has been underestimated
Io is the most volcanically active body in the Solar System, driven by tidal heating from gravitational interactions with Jupiter and other large moons. The moon’s surface hosts more than 400 paterae—...
- Io is the most volcanically active body in the Solar System.
- Io’s surface includes more than 400 paterae, volcanic depressions that emit heat and lava.
- A new preprint paper re-examines Io’s thermal output using Juno spacecraft observations.
- The analysis uses data from Juno’s Jupiter InfraRed Auroral Mapper (JIRAM).
- The study’s central conclusion is that earlier estimates of Io’s volcanic power have likely been too low.
Io is a world of extremes. It is by far the most volcanically active world in our solar system. Being continually squeezed in the never-ending tug-of-war between Jupiter and its larger satellites will do that to a moon. As a result, Io has over 400 "paterae"—volcanic depressions that spew lava up onto its surface. And, according to a new paper available in pre-print on arXiv and utilizing data from Juno's Jupiter InfraRed Auroral Mapper (JIRAM) tool, we have been massively underestimating the power output of those paterae for decades.
3 months agoIo is a world of extremes. It is by far the most volcanically active world in our solar system. Being continually squeezed in the never-ending tug-of-war between Jupiter and its larger satellites will do that to a moon. As a result, Io has over 400 “paterae” - volcanic depressions that spew lava up onto its surface. And, according to a new paper available in pre-print on arXiv and utilizing data from Juno’s Jupiter InfraRed Auroral Mapper (JIRAM) tool, we have been massively underestimating the power output of those paterae for decades.
3 months ago
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