Thursday, September 4, 2025
Science
No Result
View All Result
  • Login
  • HOME
  • SCIENCE NEWS
  • CONTACT US
  • HOME
  • SCIENCE NEWS
  • CONTACT US
No Result
View All Result
Scienmag
No Result
View All Result
Home Science News Space

Atmospheric isotopes reveal 4.5 billion years of volcanism on Jupiter’s moon Io

April 18, 2024
in Space
Reading Time: 3 mins read
0
Atmospheric isotopes reveal 4.5 billion years of volcanism on Jupiter’s moon Io
65
SHARES
591
VIEWS
Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
ADVERTISEMENT

Sulfur and chlorine isotopes in the atmosphere of Jupiter’s moon Io indicate that it has been volcanically active for the entire 4.57 billion-year history of the Solar System, according to a new study. The findings offer new insights into the moon’s history. Io is the most volcanically active body in the Solar System. This extreme level of volcanic activity is the result of tidal heating from friction generated within the moon’s interior as it is pulled between Jupiter and its neighboring moons of Europa and Ganymede. However, how long Io has hosted such extensive volcanism isn’t fully understood. Due to the moon’s current level of volcanic activity, the surface of Io is constantly being reworked, leaving a geological record of only the most recent million years of its history. Stable isotopic measurements of volatile elements in Io’s atmosphere could provide information on the history of volcanism on Io. Katherine de Kleer and colleagues used the Atacama Large Millimeter/submillimeter Array (ALMA) to observe the gasses in Io’s tenuous atmosphere and determine the stable isotopic radios of sulfer- and chlorine-bearing molecules. de Kleer et al. found that both elements are highly enriched in heavy isotopes compared to average Solar System values due to the loss of lighter isotopes from the upper atmosphere as material is continuously recycled between Io’s interior and atmosphere. The findings indicate that Io has lost 94% to 99% of the sulfur that undergoes this outgassing and recycling process. According to the authors, this would require Io to have had its current level of volcanic activity for its entire lifetime.

Sulfur and chlorine isotopes in the atmosphere of Jupiter’s moon Io indicate that it has been volcanically active for the entire 4.57 billion-year history of the Solar System, according to a new study. The findings offer new insights into the moon’s history. Io is the most volcanically active body in the Solar System. This extreme level of volcanic activity is the result of tidal heating from friction generated within the moon’s interior as it is pulled between Jupiter and its neighboring moons of Europa and Ganymede. However, how long Io has hosted such extensive volcanism isn’t fully understood. Due to the moon’s current level of volcanic activity, the surface of Io is constantly being reworked, leaving a geological record of only the most recent million years of its history. Stable isotopic measurements of volatile elements in Io’s atmosphere could provide information on the history of volcanism on Io. Katherine de Kleer and colleagues used the Atacama Large Millimeter/submillimeter Array (ALMA) to observe the gasses in Io’s tenuous atmosphere and determine the stable isotopic radios of sulfer- and chlorine-bearing molecules. de Kleer et al. found that both elements are highly enriched in heavy isotopes compared to average Solar System values due to the loss of lighter isotopes from the upper atmosphere as material is continuously recycled between Io’s interior and atmosphere. The findings indicate that Io has lost 94% to 99% of the sulfur that undergoes this outgassing and recycling process. According to the authors, this would require Io to have had its current level of volcanic activity for its entire lifetime.



Journal

Science

DOI

10.1126/science.adj0625

Article Title

Isotopic evidence of long-lived volcanism on Io

Article Publication Date

18-Apr-2024

Share26Tweet16
Previous Post

Can bismuth prevent oil leaks – (and save Norwegians billions)?

Next Post

New “window-of-opportunity” clinical trials explore cutting-edge treatments for cancers of the liver, head and neck

Related Posts

blank
Space

New Horizons: ISTA Secures Two Additional ERC Starting Grants for Research on Stress and Stars

September 4, 2025
blank
Space

Kramer’s Escape: AdS Black Holes Phase Change

September 3, 2025
blank
Space

Black Holes Warped: Infinite Gravity, Strange Modes.

September 3, 2025
blank
Space

UMD Researchers Uncover Warm Space Dust in Remote Regions of the Universe

September 3, 2025
blank
Space

Europlanet Career Medals Awarded to Tim Lichtenberg, Benoit Carry, and Jean Schneider

September 3, 2025
blank
Space

PolyU Researchers Unveil New Satellite Laser Technique, Highlighting 30-Year Surge in Global Sea Level Rise of 90 mm

September 3, 2025
Next Post
New “window-of-opportunity” clinical trials explore cutting-edge treatments for cancers of the liver, head and neck

New “window-of-opportunity” clinical trials explore cutting-edge treatments for cancers of the liver, head and neck

  • Mothers who receive childcare support from maternal grandparents show more parental warmth, finds NTU Singapore study

    Mothers who receive childcare support from maternal grandparents show more parental warmth, finds NTU Singapore study

    27544 shares
    Share 11014 Tweet 6884
  • University of Seville Breaks 120-Year-Old Mystery, Revises a Key Einstein Concept

    958 shares
    Share 383 Tweet 240
  • Bee body mass, pathogens and local climate influence heat tolerance

    643 shares
    Share 257 Tweet 161
  • Researchers record first-ever images and data of a shark experiencing a boat strike

    510 shares
    Share 204 Tweet 128
  • Warm seawater speeding up melting of ‘Doomsday Glacier,’ scientists warn

    313 shares
    Share 125 Tweet 78
Science

Embark on a thrilling journey of discovery with Scienmag.com—your ultimate source for cutting-edge breakthroughs. Immerse yourself in a world where curiosity knows no limits and tomorrow’s possibilities become today’s reality!

RECENT NEWS

  • Exploring Nigerian Youths’ Aspirations Post-COVID-19
  • Nurse Managers Discuss Domestic Violence’s Work Life Impact
  • Building Digital Literacy: Trusting Physiotherapy Influencers
  • Targeting AKR1C3 to Combat Erlotinib Resistance in Lung Cancer

Categories

  • Agriculture
  • Anthropology
  • Archaeology
  • Athmospheric
  • Biology
  • Blog
  • Bussines
  • Cancer
  • Chemistry
  • Climate
  • Earth Science
  • Marine
  • Mathematics
  • Medicine
  • Pediatry
  • Policy
  • Psychology & Psychiatry
  • Science Education
  • Social Science
  • Space
  • Technology and Engineering

Subscribe to Blog via Email

Enter your email address to subscribe to this blog and receive notifications of new posts by email.

Join 5,183 other subscribers

© 2025 Scienmag - Science Magazine

Welcome Back!

Login to your account below

Forgotten Password?

Retrieve your password

Please enter your username or email address to reset your password.

Log In
No Result
View All Result
  • HOME
  • SCIENCE NEWS
  • CONTACT US

© 2025 Scienmag - Science Magazine

Discover more from Science

Subscribe now to keep reading and get access to the full archive.

Continue reading