Io, one of Jupiter's moons, may have a thermal output an order of magnitude greater than prior estimates. This finding comes from a new study utilizing data from the Jupiter InfraRed Auroral Mapper (JIRAM) instrument aboard the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) Juno spacecraft. Io is the most volcanically active body in the solar system. It features over 400 volcanic depressions called paterae.
Previous thermal output calculations relied on M-band infrared cameras. These cameras excel at detecting hot spots, such as the peripheral rings of Io's lava lakes. However, they are less effective at measuring the cooler central crusts of these paterae. The central crusts, while cooler, cover a much larger area. Their overall thermal contribution is significant.
The study focused on 32 of Io's paterae. One specific patera, P63, was previously estimated to emit between seven and 20 gigawatts of thermal energy. New JIRAM data, which captures the thermal output of the lower temperature crustal areas, places P63's power estimate at 80 gigawatts. This suggests a substantial underestimation of Io's total thermal output.
Researchers also calculated the resurfacing age of the crusts. A 200 Kelvin crust would be approximately 13 years old. Statistical models indicate a characteristic resurfacing timescale of eight to ten years. This raises questions about observed changes in Io's surface morphology. Visual images from Voyager in 1979, Galileo in the 1990s, and Juno now do not show notable changes in lake morphology over these periods.
The study acknowledges limitations. JIRAM cannot map the actual area of the crusts used in the analysis. Researchers relied on older Voyager and Galileo data for this. Extrapolating the increased power output to all paterae on Io may also be a stretch. Many paterae are not lava lakes and would not have the same bifurcated thermal structure. Juno's extended mission may provide further data to address these remaining questions.
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