Article ID | Journal | Published Year | Pages | File Type |
---|---|---|---|---|
10701722 | Icarus | 2012 | 5 Pages |
Abstract
Using the NIMS Io Thermal Emission Database (NITED), a collection of over 1000 measurements of radiant flux from Io's volcanoes (Davies, A.G. et al. [2012]. Geophys. Res. Lett. 39, L01201. doi:10.1029/2011GL049999), we have examined the variability of thermal emission from three of Io's volcanoes: Pele, Janus Patera and Kanehekili Fluctus. At Pele, the 5-μm thermal emission as derived from 28 night time observations is remarkably steady at 37 ± 10 GW μmâ1, re-affirming previous analyses that suggested that Pele an active, rapidly overturning silicate lava lake. Janus Patera also exhibits relatively steady 5-μm thermal emission (â20 ± 3 GW μmâ1) in the four observations where Janus is resolved from nearby Kanehekili Fluctus. Janus Patera might contain a Pele-like lava lake with an effusion rate (QF) of â40-70 m3 sâ1. It should be a prime target for a future mission to Io in order to obtain data to determine lava eruption temperature. Kanehekili Fluctus has a thermal emission spectrum that is indicative of the emplacement of lava flows with insulated crusts. Effusion rate at Kanehekili Fluctus dropped by an order of magnitude from â95 m3 sâ1 in mid-1997 to â4 m3 sâ1 in late 2001.
Keywords
Related Topics
Physical Sciences and Engineering
Earth and Planetary Sciences
Space and Planetary Science
Authors
Ashley Gerard Davies, Glenn J. Veeder, Dennis L. Matson, Torrence V. Johnson,