Tuesday, March 31, 2009

Volcanoes on Io



Io = A moon of Jupiter. 4th largest moon in the Solar System.

Biggest Volcano = Loki Patera.

Info on Loki Patera = Contains an active lava lake, with a crust that periodically overturns. Can emit up to 10x more heat when the crust is stable. Crust spreads out at a rate of 1 km. a day. A new eruption begins once the crust becomes cool and thick.

Patera List:

Ah Peku - 84
Amaterasu - 100
Asha - 108
Bahbar - 86
Dazhbog - 118.36
Estan - 95
Fuchi - 64
Kami Nari - 54
Kanish Ahau - 45
Manua - 110.5
Maui Patera - 38
Mithra -34
Monan- 113
Pillan - 73
Prometheus - 28 (100 lava flow)
Pyerun - 52
Reiden - 70
Shango- 90
Svarog- 124
Tvashtar- N/A
Vircocha- 59

Volcano List:

Amirani- 37
Pele- 30 x 20 km.
Prometheus- 28 (100 lava flow)
Surt- 75 x 40 km.

http://www.digitalradiance.com/sng/Io_volcano.htm
(A simulation video of Pillan Patera volcano on Io)

The make-up of lava on Io is still unknown. It was originally thought that the lava was composed of sulfur, due to the yellow-brown coloring, but sulfur boils at 500 degrees centigrade, and the lava on Io averages a temperature of 1600 centigrade, suggesting that the lava is made out of silicate.

Scientists are still trying to discover what type the volcanoes are.

If the "Old Faithful" geyser was placed on Io, the plume would reach heights of up to 37 kilometers.

Loki constantly gives off more heat then all all of the volcanoes on planet Earth combined.




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