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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. Collectively referred to as cryomagma or ice-volcanic melt, these substances are usually liquids and form plumes, but can also be in vapour form. After eruption cryomagma condenses to a solid form when exposed to the very low surrounding temperature. Some scientists speculate that the cryovolcanoes on Titan, Saturn's largest moon, may harbor extraterrestrial life.
Theories
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Observations
Cryovolcanoes are found on icy moons. Ice volcanoes were first observed on Neptune's moon Triton during the Voyager 2 flyby in 1989.
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).
Indirect evidence of cryovolcanic activity was later observed on several other icy moons of our solar system, including Europa, Ganymede, and Miranda.
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