Magmatic intrusions control Io’s crustal thickness

Journal article

Io, the most volcanically active body in the solar system, loses heat through eruptions of hot lava. Heat is supplied by tidal dissipation and is thought to be transferred through the mantle by magmatic segregation, a mode of transport that sets it apart from convecting terrestrial planets. We present a model that couples magmatic transport of tidal heat to the volcanic system in the crust, in order to determine the controls on crustal thickness, magmatic intrusions, and eruption rates. We demonstrate that magmatic intrusions are a key component of Io's crustal heat balance; around 80% of the magma delivered to the base of the crust must be emplaced and frozen as plutons to match rough estimates of crustal thickness. As magma ascends from a partially molten mantle into the crust, a decompacting boundary layer forms, which can explain possible observations of a high‐melt‐fraction region.

Authors: Spencer, DC; Katz, RF; Hewitt, IJ

• Publication status: Published
• Peer review status: Peer reviewed
• Publisher: American Geophysical Union
• Journal: Journal of Geophysical Research: Planets More from this journal
• Volume: 125
• Issue: 6
• Article number: e2020JE006443
• Publication date: 2020-06-15
• Acceptance date: 2020-05-12
• DOI: 10.1029/2020JE006443
• EISSN: 2169-9100
• ISSN: 2169-9097
• Language: English
• Keywords: heat pipes; tidal heating; compaction; planetary volcanism; FFR; Io; intrusions