Abstract

The prodigious heat flux emitted from the surface of Jupiter's moon Io is produced in the interior of the satellite by viscoelastic dissipation of tidal energy and is generally thought to be brought to the surface by convective motions. New models of Io's equilibrium thermal state are constructed using self‐consistent calculations of tidal heating and convective heat transport. These models show that while a high‐temperature convective equilibrium exists, it falls an order of magnitude short of explaining the observed heat flux. Either Io is currently out of thermal equilibrium, or another heat transport mechanism such as melt segregation determines Io's thermal state.

Full Text
Paper version not known

Talk to us

Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have

Schedule a call

Disclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.