Io’s polar volcanic thermal emission indicative of magma ocean and shallow tidal heating models

Abstract

The distribution of Io’s volcanic activity probably reflects the position and magnitude of internal tidal heating, but full mapping of the moon has not been possible due to a lack of polar coverage. Here we use new observations of Io’s polar regions by the Juno spacecraft Jovian Infrared Auroral Mapper to complete near-infrared coverage, revealing the global distribution and magnitude of thermal emission from Io’s currently erupting volcanoes. We show that the distribution of volcanic heat flow from 266 active hot spots is consistent with the presence of a global magma ocean and/or shallow asthenospheric heating. We find that Io’s polar volcanoes are less energetic but approximately the same in number per unit area than those at lower latitudes. We also find that volcanic heat flow in the north polar cap is greater than that in the south. The low volcanic advection seen at Io’s poles is therefore at odds with measurements of background temperature, showing that Io’s poles are anomalously warm. We suggest that the differences in volcanic thermal emission from Io’s poles compared with those at lower latitudes are indicative of lithospheric dichotomies that inhibit volcanic advection towards Io’s poles, particularly in the south polar region.