High-temperature hot spots on Io as seen by the Galileo solid state imaging (SSI) experiment

Geophysical Research Letters
By: , and 

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Abstract

High-temperature hot spots on Io have been imaged at ∼50 km spatial resolution by Galileo's CCD imaging system (SSI). Images were acquired during eclipses (Io in Jupiter's shadow) via the SSI clear filter (∼0.4–1.0 µm), detecting emissions from both small intense hot spots and diffuse extended glows associated with Io‧s atmosphere and plumes. A total of 13 hot spots have been detected over ∼70% of Io–s surface. Each hot spot falls precisely on a low-albedo feature corresponding to a caldera floor and/or lava flow. The hot-spot temperatures must exceed ∼700 K for detection by SSI. Observations at wavelengths longer than those available to SSI require that most of these hot spots actually have significantly higher temperatures (∼1000 K or higher) and cover small areas. The high-temperature hot spots probably mark the locations of active silicate volcanism, supporting suggestions that the eruption and near-surface movement of silicate magma drives the heat flow and volcanic activity of Io.

Publication type Article
Publication Subtype Journal Article
Title High-temperature hot spots on Io as seen by the Galileo solid state imaging (SSI) experiment
Series title Geophysical Research Letters
DOI 10.1029/97GL01956
Volume 24
Issue 20
Year Published 1997
Language English
Publisher American Geophysical Union
Description 4 p.
First page 2443
Last page 2446
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