Tidal heating of Io

Tidal heating (also known as tidal working) occurs through the tidal friction processes: orbital and rotational energy are dissipated as heat in the crust of the moons and planets involved. Io has a similar mass and size as the Moon, but Io is the most geologically active body in the Solar System. This is caused by the heating mechanism of Io. The major heating source of Earth and its moon is radioactive heating, but the heating source on Io is tidal heating. As Jupiter is very massive, the side of Io nearest to Jupiter has a slightly larger gravitational pull than the opposite side. This difference in gravitational forces cause distortion of Io’s shape. Differently from the Earth’s only moon, Jupiter has several moons (i.e. Io, Europa, Ganymede and Callisto). As Io is the innermost moon of Jupiter, Jupiter pulls Io inward and other moons pull Io outward. This causes Io’s orbit to be elliptical and eccentric. The distance between Jupiter and Io changes all the time and the distortion of Io likewise changes all the time. The constant change in the shape of Io results in a large amount of friction in the moon and the friction-induced heating drives strong volcanic activities on the surface of Io.^[1]

Although there is general agreement that the cause of the heat as manifested in Io's many volcanoes is tidal heating from the pull of gravity from Jupiter and its moon Europa, the volcanoes are not in the positions predicted with tidal heating. They are shifted 30 to 60 degrees to the East.^[2] A study published in 2015, explains the eastern shift by an ocean of molten rock under the surface. The movement of this magma would generate extra heat. Liquids especially if they are sticky (or viscous) can produce heat through friction. The team who wrote the paper, believe that the subsurface ocean is a mixture of molten and solid rock. When the molten rock flows, it may swirl and rub against the surrounding rock, thus generating heat.^{[3] [4]}

Other moons in the Solar System undergo tidal heating, and they too may have more heat generated by this process, including heat from the movement of water. This ability to generate heat in a subsurface ocean increases the chance of life on bodies like Europa and Enceladus.^{[5] [6] [7]}

Tidal heating on Io. (A) Four major moons of the Jupiter, Io is the inner-most one. Gravity from these bodies pull Io in varying directions. (B) Io's eccentric orbit. Io's shape changes as it completes its orbit. (C) Earth's moon's orbit is circular, so the moon's shape doesn't change.^[1]

References

External links

• Tidal Heating tutorial