Uncovering Io’s Volcanic History Through Isotopic Analysis of its Atmosphere

2024-04-18 13:05:12

Sulfur and chlorine isotopes in the atmosphere of Jupiter’s moon Io reveal its ongoing volcanic activity throughout the solar system’s 4.57 billion-year history. Credit: twoday.co.il.com

Research using isotopic analysis of Io’s atmosphere suggests that the moon has been volcanically active since the formation of the solar system, affected by tidal forces from.

Jupiter

Jupiter is the largest planet in the solar system and the fifth planet from the sun. It is a gas giant with a mass greater then all of the other planets combined. Its name comes from the Roman god Jupiter.

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Sulfur and chlorine isotopes in the atmosphere of Jupiter’s moon Io indicate that it has experienced continuous volcanic activity throughout the 4.57 billion-year history of the Solar System, a recent study reveals. The research provides new insights into the moon’s volcanic history.

Known as the most volcanically active body in the Solar System, Io’s extreme volcanic activity results from tidal heating. This heating is due to friction created within the Moon’s interior when it experiences gravitational pulls from Jupiter and its neighboring moons, Europa and Ganymede.

Jupiter’s moon Io, its night side lit by reflected sunlight from Jupiter, or “Jupitershine”. Credit: NASA/JPL-Caltech/SwRI/MSSS, Emma Wälimäki © CC BY

Geological insights from isotopic measurements

However, how long Io hosted such extensive volcanism is not fully understood. Due to the moon’s current level of volcanic activity, Io’s surface is constantly being reworked, leaving a geological record of only the last few million years of its history. Stable isotopic measurements of volatile elements in Io’s atmosphere may provide information on the history of Io’s volcanism.

Catherine de Clair and colleagues used the Atacama Large Millimeter/submillimeter array (

ALMA

The Atacama Large Millimeter/submillimeter Array (ALMA) is the largest ground-based facility for observations in the millimeter/submillimeter regime in the world. ALMA comprises 66 high-precision dish antennas of measuring either 12 meters across or 7 meters across and spread over distances of up to 16 kilometers. It is an international partnership between Europe, the United States, Japan, and the Republic of Chile.

” data-gt-translate-attributes=”({” attribute=”” tabindex=”0″ role=”link”>אלמא) to observe gases in Io’s tenuous atmosphere and determine the stable isotopic radioisotopes of sulfur- and chlorine-bearing molecules.

Significant findings on the composition of the atmosphere

De Claire et al. found that both elements are highly enriched in heavy isotopes compared to average Solar System values ​​due to the loss of lighter isotopes from the upper atmosphere, as material is continuously recycled between Io’s surface and atmosphere. The findings indicate that Ayu has lost 94% to 99% of the sulfur that goes through the process of outgassing and this cycle. According to the authors, this would require Io to have its current level of volcanic activity throughout its lifetime.