Volcanoes on Jupiter’s moon Io have long fascinated scientists with their seemingly endless eruptions. But what drives these volcanic processes? Researchers recently made groundbreaking discoveries that challenge the long-held idea of a global magma ocean beneath Io’s surface.
For years, scientists believed Io contained a massive layer of molten rock, a “magma ocean” that would explain the moon’s numerous volcanoes. However, new data from NASA’s Juno mission, combined with archival research from the Galileo spacecraft, has cast doubt on this theory. The findings suggest that Io’s interior is more solid than previously thought.
So, where does the molten rock come from? It appears that pockets of magma rising in the mantle are responsible for the eruptions. This process is driven by tidal heating, caused by Jupiter’s gravitational field, which warps Io’s internal structure and releases heat. While this energy can cause significant melting, it may not be enough to sustain a global magma ocean.
In contrast to Earth’s moon, which had a similar-sized magma ocean in its early days, researchers argue that tidal heating alone is insufficient to create such an environment. Instead, dramatic events like the formation of Earth’s moon might be necessary to generate enough energy.
The implications of this discovery extend beyond Io and Jupiter. Astronomers studying exoplanets on tight orbits around small stars (M-dwarfs) had wondered whether they too would develop global oceans of magma. The similarities between Io’s volcanic system and these distant worlds mean that the answer may be no.
These findings, published in Nature, shed new light on the complex geological processes at work on Jupiter’s moon Io and beyond.
Source: https://www.space.com/space-exploration/juno/what-causes-volcanic-eruptions-on-jupiters-moon-io-scientists-arent-so-sure-anymore