TY - JOUR
T1 - Aeolian sediment transport on Io from lava–frost interactions
AU - McDonald, George D.
AU - Méndez Harper, Joshua
AU - Ojha, Lujendra
AU - Corlies, Paul
AU - Dufek, Josef
AU - Ewing, Ryan C.
AU - Kerber, Laura
N1 - Funding Information:
We thank David Goldstein at The University of Texas at Austin, William McDoniel at Sandia National Laboratories, Alex Hayes at Cornell University, Kirby Runyon at The Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory, and Bruno Andreotti at the University of Paris-Diderot for helpful discussions. This work was funded by a startup grant to L.O. by Rutgers University.
Funding Information:
We thank David Goldstein at The University of Texas at Austin, William McDoniel at Sandia National Laboratories, Alex Hayes at Cornell University, Kirby Runyon at The Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory, and Bruno Andreotti at the University of Paris-Diderot for helpful discussions. This work was funded by a startup grant to L.O. by Rutgers University.
Publisher Copyright:
© 2022, The Author(s).
PY - 2022/12
Y1 - 2022/12
N2 - Surface modification on Jupiter’s volcanically active moon, Io, has to date been attributed almost exclusively to lava emplacement and volcanic plume deposits. Here we demonstrate that wind-blown transport of sediment may also be altering the Ionian surface. Specifically, shallow subsurface interactions between lava and Io’s widespread sulfur dioxide (SO2) frost can produce localized sublimation vapor flows with sufficient gas densities to enable particle saltation. We calculate anticipated outgassing velocities from lava–SO2 frost interactions, and compare these to the saltation thresholds predicted when accounting for the tenuous nature of the sublimated vapor. We find that saltation may occur if frost temperatures surpass 155 K. Finally we make the first measurements of the dimensions of linear features in images from the Galileo probe, previously termed “ridges”, which demonstrate certain similarities to dunes on other planetary bodies. Io joins a growing list of bodies with tenuous and transient atmospheres where aeolian sediment transport may be an important control on the landscape.
AB - Surface modification on Jupiter’s volcanically active moon, Io, has to date been attributed almost exclusively to lava emplacement and volcanic plume deposits. Here we demonstrate that wind-blown transport of sediment may also be altering the Ionian surface. Specifically, shallow subsurface interactions between lava and Io’s widespread sulfur dioxide (SO2) frost can produce localized sublimation vapor flows with sufficient gas densities to enable particle saltation. We calculate anticipated outgassing velocities from lava–SO2 frost interactions, and compare these to the saltation thresholds predicted when accounting for the tenuous nature of the sublimated vapor. We find that saltation may occur if frost temperatures surpass 155 K. Finally we make the first measurements of the dimensions of linear features in images from the Galileo probe, previously termed “ridges”, which demonstrate certain similarities to dunes on other planetary bodies. Io joins a growing list of bodies with tenuous and transient atmospheres where aeolian sediment transport may be an important control on the landscape.
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U2 - 10.1038/s41467-022-29682-x
DO - 10.1038/s41467-022-29682-x
M3 - Article
C2 - 35440556
AN - SCOPUS:85128404737
SN - 2041-1723
VL - 13
JO - Nature communications
JF - Nature communications
IS - 1
M1 - 2076
ER -