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Violent silicate volcanism on Io in 1996
Author(s) -
Stansberry J. A.,
Spencer J. R.,
Howell R. R.,
Dumas C.,
Vakil D.
Publication year - 1997
Publication title -
geophysical research letters
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.007
H-Index - 273
eISSN - 1944-8007
pISSN - 0094-8276
DOI - 10.1029/97gl02593
Subject(s) - lava , volcano , volcanism , thermal emission , silicate , geology , thermal , astrobiology , earth science , atmospheric sciences , seismology , physics , meteorology , astronomy , tectonics
We monitored Io's volcanic thermal emission from 1.7 to 4.8 µ m in 1995/96. The data reveal a number of brightenings when Io's thermal emission increased several‐fold. We use a model of emission from lava flows to understand observations of two brightenings in 1996. The brightenings were caused by eruptions ≃ 3km² in extent, with eruptive rates of 10 4 ‐10 6 m²s −1 and with maximum lava temperatures ≥ 1400 K. These events were probably lava lakes and/or fire fountains.