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Jupiter's Moon Io Has a Volcanic Sub-Surface
gabbo529 writes "NASA scientists have discovered new information on one of Jupiter's moons, indicating it has a molten magma sub-surface (abstract). This discovery, made using data analysis from NASA's Galileo spacecraft, reveals why that particular moon is the most volcanic object known in the solar system. The moon, which is named Io, produces about 100 times more lava each year than all the volcanoes on Earth combined. The global magma ocean about 30 to 50 kilometers (20 to 30 miles) beneath Io's surface explains the moon's activity."
Science has a nice graphic, too.
NASA scientists have discovered new information on one of Jupiter's moons
Who put it there?
For decades, even. Moltern sulfur mantle was in my HSscience text -- were they just lying with plausible speculation presented as fact? Or is this different somehow?
It's been widely known for a long time that Io is volcanically active. I remember reading about it in a kids' astronomy book in the 1970's.
File under 'M' for 'Manic ranting'
...and has been in the planet's atmosphere since 2003.
That's a really interesting way of looking at it.
How many Slashdot readers don't know that Io is the most volcanically active body in the solar system?
I just thought it was kinda frustrating reaching Io at the end of the description. I was hoping it was another of Jupiter's moons because I figured if it were Io, Io would've been stated.
Viable Slashdot alternatives: https://pipedot.org/ and http://soylentnews.org/
"Whether they ever find life there or not, I think Jupiter should be considered an enemy planet." - Jack Handy
magma
Having to work for a living is the root of all evil.
I know all about this moon.
Io is the most volcanic body in the solar system. By definition, wouldn't that mean it has a volcanic sub-surface? Last time I checked, magma comes up from underground to the surface.
From the summary:
The global magma ocean about 30 to 50 kilometers (20 to 30 miles) beneath Io's surface explains the moon's activity.
All these years, I thought it was physics that explained the moons activity.
If a body is spouting Lava from its outer surface then that's more often than not a sign that its subsurface is also hot.
...are yours except EUROPA attempt no landing there use them together use them in peace
why is this even a story? I have known this information since January 1979.
The two Voyager space probes made a number of important discoveries about Jupiter, its satellites, its radiation belts, and its never-before-seen planetary rings. The most surprising discovery in the Jovian system was the existence of volcanic activity on the moon Io, which had not been observed either from the ground, or by Pioneer 10 or 11.
Might as well post a story about man landing on the moon and call it news.
Amazing what slashdot ACs know before anyone else does. Maybe he can tell us what New Horizons will find when it gets to Pluto and save us the wait.
I think some of the people confidently commenting on this article have a geology knowledge level akin to "I think it's made of rock."
I thought it was a pretty interesting result. They'd been guessing beforehand. Now they have actual evidence of a global magma layer.
everytime i hear news about Jupiter it sounds more and more like mario galaxy
"The moon, which is named Io, produces about 100 times more lava each year than all the volcanoes on Earth combined."
The mention of a fixed amount of time is inappropriate here, since rates of lava production per unit time are already being compared.
I realize that the quotation comes from the original article.
I think we will live on this moon someday or something similar.
Recipes for USA bankrupt - http://tinypaste.com/0d66f dd = dollar deluge (printed in the infinity)
Where is the adamantine?
A magma ocean is not a 100% liquid rock layer beneath the surface.
The observations made by this team are consistent with a 50 km-thick layer about 50 km below the surface (that is, within the mantle) with >=20 volume% melt fraction. This work is based on how Io affects Jupiter's magnetic field.
Other research teams have demonstrated, since the 1990s that Io should have a mantle with a >= 20 volume% melt fraction at some depth in the mantle--it was never clear where this magma ocean was located. This work is based on observations of the surface eruptions and models for how quickly silicate lavas cool.
The fact that these agree is significant.
A substantial portion of Io at 100 volume% melt would actually not work because pure liquid does not dissipate enough of the energy from the tidal forces to maintain 100 volume% melt. That is there's a feedback loop between Io's interior and the tidal flexing:
* Too much liquid in the interior and the energy dissipation will decrease significantly, allowing the liquid to cool enough to solidify significantly.
* Too little liquid and the interior would quickly dissipate enough tidal energy (in the form of friction) to significantly melt the interior.
So, Io's orbital resonances keep a small part of its mantle molten at between 20 volume% and 50-70 volume.
That there's now a depth associated with this magma ocean is actually quite significant. We can start better understanding the role volatiles play in Io's volcanism now that we know where the molten rock is coming from.
Isn't this the same moon that I created??
Nothing here... So... SHOOO!!!