Volcanism on Io


Image taken from http://www.astronomy.com/content/static/AstroForKids/jupiter.asp   Io

Image taken from http://www.space.com/scienceastronomy/solarsystem/io_volcanoes_000504.html  Dust plume on Io
Io is one of Jupiter's largest moons.  It is also the most volcanically active body in the solar system.  Because  Io's orbit passes so close to Jupiter, the tremendous tidal forces cause internal heating and tectonic movement that cause such violent volcanic activity and to sustain it for a much longer time than Earth's moon, who's volcanic activity has ceased.  Io has a very thin atmosphere, so the volcanic ash from the eruptions shoots high over Io, to heights of up to 280 km.  The plumes stay in near perfect arcs due to the lack of wind, then fall back to the surface.  The ash collects around the vents in a circular pattern.  Io's surface is covered almost entirely of vast planes of pyroclastic debris, and lava flow planes from hundreds of millions of years of volcanic activity.
Images taken from http://www.astronomy.com/content/static/AstroForKids/jupiter.asp
and

http://www.space.com/scienceastronomy/solarsystem/io_volcanoes_000504.html






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