Volcanism in the Solar SystemVolcanism in the Solar SystemPart 2 – Outer Solar System Part 2 – Outer Solar System

Justin FilibertoLunar and Planetary Institute

Plan of TalkPlan of Talk1. Earth - review2. Inner Solar System

• Mercury • Venus• Moon• Mars

3. Outer Solar System• Io• Enceladus• Titan• Triton

4. Summarize Volcanoes in the Solar System

Outer Solar SystemOuter Solar System

Only “rocky” volcanic body: IoOnly “rocky” volcanic body: Io Other types of eruptionsOther types of eruptions

– Icy volcanoesIcy volcanoes– GeysersGeysers– ??

IoIo Moon of JupiterMoon of Jupiter Mean radius (km) Mean radius (km)

1821 (0.286XEarth)1821 (0.286XEarth) Mass (10Mass (102222kg) 8.93 kg) 8.93

(0.015XEarth)(0.015XEarth) Surface T (K) 130 Surface T (K) 130 Gravity (m sGravity (m s-2-2) 1.8 ) 1.8

(0.2XEarth)(0.2XEarth) Most volcanicallyMost volcanically

active body in theactive body in thesolar system.solar system.

Evidence for VolcanismEvidence for Volcanism

Surface ChangesSurface Changes Gas PlumesGas Plumes

Loki Patera…Loki Patera…

Active Lava Lake?Active Lava Lake?

Ra PateraRa Patera

Diameter-450 kmDiameter-450 km Height <1kmHeight <1km Area of Lava-Area of Lava- 250,000km250,000km22

What type of What type of volcano?volcano?

Lava type?Lava type?

Ra PateraRa Patera

0

5000

10000

15000

20000

25000

-500000 -400000 -300000 -200000 -100000 0 100000 200000 300000 400000 500000

KraflaHawaiiColumbia River Basalt GroupEtnaMt HoodOlympus MonsArsia MonsTharsis TholusTheia MonsSapas MonsRa PateraGruitheuisen Domes

PelePele Pele eruption lava >1350Pele eruption lava >1350°C °C

– Hawaiian lavas ~1000°C Hawaiian lavas ~1000°C Lava type?Lava type? Volcano?Volcano?

EnceladusEnceladus

Moon of SaturnMoon of Saturn Mean radius (km) Mean radius (km)

251 (0.04XEarth)251 (0.04XEarth) Mass (10Mass (102020kg) 1.1 kg) 1.1

(1.8x10(1.8x10-5-5XEarth)XEarth) Surface T (K) 75 Surface T (K) 75 Gravity (m sGravity (m s-2-2) 0.1 ) 0.1

(0.01XEarth)(0.01XEarth) Icy SurfaceIcy Surface

“Tiger Stripe” Ridges

Enceladus EruptsEnceladus Erupts

TitanTitan Moon of SaturnMoon of Saturn Mean radius (km) Mean radius (km)

2576 (0.4XEarth)2576 (0.4XEarth) Mass (10Mass (102323kg) 1.35 kg) 1.35

(0.023XEarth)(0.023XEarth) Surface T (K) 94 Surface T (K) 94 Gravity (m sGravity (m s-2-2) 1.4) 1.4 Largest moon of Largest moon of

SaturnSaturn Only object with stable Only object with stable

liquid on the surface liquid on the surface (other than the Earth)(other than the Earth)

Icy Volcano?Icy Volcano?

Icy Volcano?Icy Volcano?

TritonTriton

Moon of NeptuneMoon of Neptune Mean radius (km) Mean radius (km)

1353 (0.2XEarth)1353 (0.2XEarth) Mass (10Mass (102222kg) 2.1 kg) 2.1

(0.0036XEarth)(0.0036XEarth) Surface T (K) 38 Surface T (K) 38 Gravity (m sGravity (m s-2-2) 0.78) 0.78 Surface is frozen Surface is frozen

nitrogen and waternitrogen and water

Triton Cryovolcanism?Triton Cryovolcanism?

Bluish streaks – geysers of nitrogen?Bluish streaks – geysers of nitrogen?

Outer Planet SummaryOuter Planet Summary

Possible old volcanoes on Ganymede, and Possible old volcanoes on Ganymede, and Europa similar to Enceladus?Europa similar to Enceladus?

Possible old volcanoes on Dione and Possible old volcanoes on Dione and Tethys?Tethys?

Possible volcanoes on Pluto?Possible volcanoes on Pluto? More data coming from New Horizons may More data coming from New Horizons may

answer some of these questions…answer some of these questions…

Some questions to ponderSome questions to ponder

• What types of volcanoes are common to the Earth only? Why?

• What types of volcanoes are common in the inner solar system but not the outer? Why?

• What does this suggest about the cooling histories of the inner planets? Outer planets?

Some questions to ponderSome questions to ponder

• From the volcanoes we have seen which ones would we expect on which planets?

• What do they suggest about other planets?

• Since most of us do not live near a volcano, how can students connect volcanoes on the Earth and other planets?