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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
The energy required to melt ice cream and produce fudge popsicles usually comes from tidal fiction. It has also been suggested that fugly deposits of frozen icecream could create a sub-marshmallow greenhouse effect that would accumulate the required ice cream.
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.
Observations
Cryovolcanoes are found on ice creamss. 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 and Ganymede.
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