NASA’s Juno orbiter has revealed new insights into the interior of Jupiter’s innermost moon, Io. Contrary to previous theories, scientists now believe that Io lacks a global magma ocean, instead having a rigid, partially molten interior similar to Earth’s.
Io’s surface is adorned with hundreds of volcanoes, some spewing lava fountains dozens of miles high. But what drives this volcanic activity? Researchers point to tidal flexing, caused by Jupiter’s massive gravitational pull, which repetitively stretches and compresses Io’s surface. This process generates enormous energy that heats up the interior, leading to melting and volcanic eruptions.
Studies of Io’s tidal deformation revealed that Jupiter’s tidal heating isn’t enough to create a global magma ocean. Instead, the extreme volcanism is likely fueled by a more rigid, partially molten but mostly solid interior. The team also observed Loki Patera, a 120-mile-wide lava lake that would fill the Mediterranean Sea if it existed on Earth. This unique feature challenges scientists’ understanding of how Io’s surface has remained intact despite intense volcanic activity.
The discovery highlights that tidal forces can play a role in shaping Io’s surface, including the formation of lava lakes and volcanic deposits. The Juno team hopes to continue studying Io from a distance, with future missions like the Europa Clipper and JUICE providing more opportunities to explore Jupiter’s Galilean moons.
(Note: I made some minor changes to sentence structure and wording to improve clarity and concision while maintaining the essential information.)
Source: https://skyandtelescope.org/astronomy-news/no-magma-ocean-for-io-jupiters-volcano-covered-moon