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Heat flow from Io /JI/The existing ground-based measurements of Io's thermal emission at infrared wavelengths of 8.4, 10.6, and 21 microns have been reexamined. Present in these data is the signature of hot spots, presumably similar to the hot spots seen by the IRIS experiment on Voyager. It is possible to extract from these data the total amount of power radiated. Since the hot spots are believed to be a result of deep-seated activity in Io and since the remainder of Io's surface is an extraordinarily poor thermal conductor, the power radiated by the hot spots is essentially the total heat flow. The analysis yields a heat flow of 2 + or - 1 W/sq m. This value is tremendously large in comparison to the average heat flow of the earth (0.06 W/sq m) and the moon (0.02 W/sq m), but is characteristic of active geothermal areas on the earth. A heat flow this large requires that the interior of Io be at least partially molten on a global scale.
Document ID
19810047100
Acquisition Source
Legacy CDMS
Document Type
Reprint (Version printed in journal)
Authors
Matson, D. L.
(Jet Propulsion Lab., California Inst. of Tech. Pasadena, CA, United States)
Ransford, G. A.
(Jet Propulsion Lab., California Inst. of Tech. Pasadena, CA, United States)
Johnson, T. V.
(California Institute of Technology, Jet Propulsion Laboratory, Space Sciences Div., Pasadena Calif., United States)
Date Acquired
August 11, 2013
Publication Date
March 10, 1981
Publication Information
Publication: Journal of Geophysical Research
Volume: 86
Subject Category
Lunar And Planetary Exploration
Accession Number
81A31504
Funding Number(s)
CONTRACT_GRANT: NAS7-100
Distribution Limits
Public
Copyright
Other

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