Insights Into the Dynamics of Planetary Interiors Obtained Through the Study of Global Distribution of Volcanoes III: Lessons From Io.

Abstract:

Clues concerning dynamic aspects of planetary interiors can be obtained through the characterization of volcano distribution at a global scale. On past years, results obtained from global distribution of volcanism on Earth and Venus have been presented, and compared with each other. In this work, the global distribution of volcanism on Io (the innermost of Jupiter’s Galilean satellites and the most volcanically active body in the Solar System) is explored using the same tools. Volcanic centers on Io can be divided in two groups: The first including positive thermal anomalies, or hotspots, and the second formed by volcano-tectonic depressions called paterae. Approximately 20% of the documented patera coincide with hotspots, but not all of Io’s current volcanic activity is directly associated to paterae. It is uncertain whether hotspots located outside paterae represent volcanic systems still lacking a caldera-like structure, or they represent an entirely different type of volcanism. To account for this source of uncertainty, the analysis reported here was completed on different databases (hotspots, paterae, patera floor units and a combination of hotspots and paterae referred to as volcanic systems). In addition, the distribution of Io’s mountains also was studied. As a result, we show that the main clusters of volcanism on Io support the existence of mantle convection patterns that include a combined heating between the astenosphere and the deep mantle (with the former source being more important, but not necessarily on a 2:1 proportion), takes place at moderate to high Reynolds numbers, and includes some degree of impermeability between the astenosphere and the mantle. We also show that although the long-wavelength volcano distribution is controlled by the patterns of mantle convection, the astenosphere serves as a buffer zone where magma is distributed laterally giving place to volcanic activity away from the zones of influence of the hot mantle isotherms. The processes discussed serve to explain the long-wavelength anticorrelation that exists between volcanic activity and mountain building.