| Revision as of 02:23, 30 January 2006 edit66.212.213.236 (talk) →Theories← Previous edit | Revision as of 02:26, 30 January 2006 edit undoAntandrus (talk | contribs)Autopatrolled, Administrators111,289 editsm Reverted edits by 66.212.213.236 (talk) to last version by Alex.gNext edit → | ||
| Line 15: | Line 15: | ||
| ], a dark feature on ]'s moon ], might be a cryovolcanic dome.]] | ], a dark feature on ]'s moon ], might be a cryovolcanic dome.]] | ||
| Usually energy required to melt ices and produce cryovolcanoes | Usually energy required to melt ices and produce cryovolcanoes | ||
| comes from ]. It has also been suggested that translucent deposits of frozen materials could create a sub-surface ] that would accumulate the required heat. |
comes from ]. It has also been suggested that translucent deposits of frozen materials could create a sub-surface ] that would accumulate the required heat. | ||
| It is ] that the ] object ] has exhibited cryovolcanism in the past. In this case, the source of energy would be ] (See also: ]). | It is ] that the ] object ] has exhibited cryovolcanism in the past. In this case, the source of energy would be ] (See also: ]). | ||
Revision as of 02:26, 30 January 2006
A Cryovolcano is literally, an icy volcano. Cryovolcanoes form on icy moons, and possibly on other low temperature astronomical objects (e.g. Kuiper belt objects). Rather than molten rock, these volcanoes erupt volatiles such as water, ammonia or methane compounds. Collectively referred to as cryomagma, these substances are usually liquids and form flumes, but can also be in vapour form. After eruption cryomagma condenses to a solid form when exposed to the very low surrounding temperature.
Theories
Usually energy required to melt ices and produce cryovolcanoes comes from tidal friction. It has also been suggested that translucent deposits of frozen materials could create a sub-surface greenhouse effect that would accumulate the required heat.
It is hypothesised that the Kuiper belt object Quaoar has exhibited cryovolcanism in the past. In this case, the source of energy would be radioactive decay (See also: 50000 Quaoar).
Observations
Cryovolcanoes are found on icy moons. Ice volcanoes were first observed on Neptune's moon Triton during the Voyager 2 flyby in 1989. Indirect evidence of cryovolcanic activity was later observed on several other icy moons of our solar system, including Europa, Ganymede, and Enceladus.
Cassini Mission
The Cassini-Huygens mission has found a methane-spewing cryovolcano on Titan, and such volcanism is now believed to be a significant source of the methane found in Titan's atmosphere. On November 27, 2005 Cassini photographed geysers on the south pole of Enceladus (See also: Cryovolcanism on Enceladus).
See also
External links
- Triton - Triton at the Nine Planets
- South Pole of Triton - Triton at SolarViews.com
- Cryovolcanism - Article at the Encyclopedia of Astrobiology, Astronomy & Spaceflight
- Enceladus' South Polar Stripes Spew "Warm" Water - News article at the Planetary Society