Spencer JR, Stern SA, Cheng AF, Weaver HA, Reuter DC, Retherford K, Lunsford A, Moore JM, Abramov O, Lopes RMC, Perry JE, Kamp L, Showalter M, Jessup KL, Marchis F, Schenk PM, Dumas C. Io volcanism seen by new horizons: a major eruption of the Tvashtar volcano.
Science 2007;
318:240-3. [PMID:
17932290 DOI:
10.1126/science.1147621]
[Citation(s) in RCA: 87] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/02/2022]
Abstract
Jupiter's moon Io is known to host active volcanoes. In February and March 2007, the New Horizons spacecraft obtained a global snapshot of Io's volcanism. A 350-kilometer-high volcanic plume was seen to emanate from the Tvashtar volcano (62 degrees N, 122 degrees W), and its motion was observed. The plume's morphology and dynamics support nonballistic models of large Io plumes and also suggest that most visible plume particles condensed within the plume rather than being ejected from the source. In images taken in Jupiter eclipse, nonthermal visible-wavelength emission was seen from individual volcanoes near Io's sub-Jupiter and anti-Jupiter points. Near-infrared emission from the brightest volcanoes indicates minimum magma temperatures in the 1150- to 1335-kelvin range, consistent with basaltic composition.
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