Cryovolcano
A Kryovulkan ( ice volcano ) is an extra- terrestrial manifestation of volcanism that forms only at low temperatures below -150 ° C.
The existence of cryovolcanoes was detected on Saturn's moon Enceladus, the Neptune moon Triton and the Pluto Charon. They are also suspected on Jupiter 's moon Europa and Saturn's moon Titan.
Definition
Cryovolcanoes spew lava glutflüssige, but easily fusible substances such as methane, carbon dioxide, water or ammonia present in the interior of the planet or moon in a frozen state. By present there heat generated by tidal forces, for example, these materials are melted and pushing to the surface. There solidifies the ejection and can build up to several hundred meters high deposits.
Discovery
For a long time the Kryovulkan a predicted theoretically with object that has never been observed. At the beginning of 2005, however, ESA 's Huygens probe landing on Titan confirmed in their presumption that the atmosphere of Saturn's moon to 2-6 percent consists of methane. Since atmospheric methane is degraded rapidly by photochemical processes, the gas must be simulated. Recordings of the mother ship of Huygens, NASA's Cassini Spring 2005 show structures of about 30 km in diameter on the titanium surface, where it is highly likely that cryovolcanoes. Likewise cryovolcanoes could be found on Enceladus, and with a telescope on Charon.
Literature
- Scientific American 09/ 05: ice volcano on Titan? (P. 16-22)