Io, Jupiter’s third-largest moon, has long been a subject of fascination due to its volcanic origins. Scientists had hypothesized that a global magma ocean might exist beneath Io’s surface, but new data from the Juno spacecraft suggests otherwise. The research, published in Nature and presented at the American Geophysical Union science conference, reveals that individual magma channels are likely responsible for powering the moon’s hundreds of volcanoes and lava lakes.
According to Scott Bolton, director at the Southwest Research Institute, Io is an intriguing object with volcanoes covering both poles and its middle. The process of tidal flexing, caused by Jupiter’s massive gravity, generates heat that melts Io’s rock interior, creating volcanic activity. However, this heating mechanism does not necessarily imply a global magma ocean.
To investigate this phenomenon, the research team measured deformation on Io’s surface to learn more about its internal structure. They used data from two close flybys of Io from NASA’s Juno spacecraft and found that Io’s deformation was similar to little capillaries rising to the surface, rather than a uniform liquid layer. This finding suggests that a global magma ocean may not be as common in our solar system as initially thought.
The absence of a global magma ocean on Io provides new insights into the early evolution of planetary bodies and challenges theoretical studies on how solar systems form. While the exact cause of Io’s volcanic activity remains unclear, tidal forces are likely an important factor, generating heat that can lead to habitable zones further from Earth.
Source: https://www.washingtonpost.com/climate-environment/2024/12/12/jupiter-moon-io-volcanoes