New Geologic Map of Jupiter’s Moon Io Documents Dynamic Volcanic Face

The “Geologic Map of Io” (USGS Scientific Investigations Map 3168) is available online: http://pubs.usgs.gov/sim/3168/

More than 400 years after its discovery by Galileo, Io — the innermost large moon of Jupiter — can finally rest on its geologic laurels. A group of scientists including David A. Crown of the Planetary Science Institute has produced the first global geologic map of the Jovian satellite. The map, which was published by the U. S. Geological Survey, technically illustrates the geologic character of some of the most unique and active volcanoes ever documented in the solar system.

Since its discovery in January 1610, Io has been the focus of repeated observation, first by Earth-based telescopes, and later by fly-by and orbiting spacecraft. These studies depict an otherworldly celestial body whose gravitational relationships with Jupiter and sister moons Europa and Ganymede cause massive, rapid flexing of its surface and interior. This flexing generates tremendous heat in Io’s interior, which is relieved through surface volcanism, resulting in 25 times more volcanic activity than occurs here on Earth.

“This new map of Io’s geology provides for the first time a detailed record of the different types of landforms and deposits that form the surface and presents a global context that is important for understanding Io’s internal evolution and volcanic processes, as well as for targeting future observations of Io.” said Crown, a senior scientist at PSI. “Knowledge of Io’s volcanic activity derived from geologic mapping is an important contribution to our understanding of the nature and diversity of volcanism in our solar system.”

The Io geologic map is unique from other USGS-published planetary geologic maps because surface features were characterized using four distinct global image mosaics. Produced by the USGS, these image mosaics combine the best images from NASA’s Voyager 1 and 2 missions (acquired in 1979) as well as the Galileo orbiter (1995-2003).

In many cases, these maps show that, despite the many differences between bodies in our solar system, there are many notable similarities that link the evolution and fate of our planetary system together.

“This project was of special interest to me as I was the lead author on the first attempt to synthesize the global geology of Io in the form of a geologic map. This project was undertaken more than 20 years ago and utilized what were then the recent results from the Voyager missions. Although we developed an approach for global mapping of Io’s volcanoes, plains and mountains at that time, we could only complete mapping of part of Io’s surface based on the resolution and coverage of the Voyager cameras,” said PSI’s Crown. “The integration of both Voyager and Galileo mission datasets has now allowed detailed mapping to be completed for the nearly the entire surface of Io. Comparison of different regions of Io’s surface in the different datasets and over time provides interesting insights into Io’s geology.”

The highly detailed, colorful map reveals a number of volcanic features, including: volcanic domes and depressions, lava flow fields, mountains, plume deposits, and sulfur- and sulfur dioxide-rich plains. Despite this geologic diversity, there is one particular feature that is common to the Moon, Mars, and even Earth that is not depicted on the geologic map of Io — impact craters.

“Io has no impact craters. It is the only object in the solar system where we have not seen any impact craters, testifying to Io’s very active volcanic resurfacing,” said project lead David Williams of Arizona State University.

“More than 130 years after the USGS first began producing quality geologic maps here on Earth, it is exciting to have the reach of our science extend across 400 million miles to this volcanically active moon of Jupiter,” said USGS director Marcia McNutt. “Somehow it makes the vast expanse of space seem less forbidding to know that similar geologic processes which have shaped our planet are active elsewhere.”

This uniqueness presented a particular cartographic challenge. “Io has undergone major surface changes during the past few decades due to its volcanic activity,” said Ken Tanaka, a USGS research geologist who coordinates the review and publication of planetary geologic maps. “Conveying information from multiple image mosaics in a single map necessitated the use of unique and complementary map symbols, colors and feature names.

The new geologic map of Io is just one of many cartographic products that help drive scientific thought. The production of these products has been a focal point of research at the USGS Astrogeology Science Center since its inception in the early 1960s. “Remotely characterizing the surfaces of planetary bodies [such as Io] forces scientists to carefully consider and test hypotheses that address the evolution of an entire planet,” says Dr. Ken Herkenhoff, Acting Director of the USGS Astrogeology Science Center.

USGS began producing planetary maps in support of the Apollo moon landings, and continues to help establish a framework for integrating and comparing past and future studies of extraterrestrial surfaces.

The project was funded by NASA through its Outer Planets Research and Planetary Geology and Geophysics Programs.

The “Geologic Map of Io” (USGS Scientific Investigations Map 3168) is available online: http://pubs.usgs.gov/sim/3168/

Media Contact:
Alan Fischer
Public Information Officer
+1 520-382-0411, +1 520-622-6300
fischer@psi.edu

Science Contact:
David Crown
Senior Scientist
+1 520-382-0596
crown@psi.edu

Celebrating its 40th anniversary, the Planetary Science Institute is a private, nonprofit 501(c)(3) corporation dedicated to solar system exploration. It is headquartered in Tucson, Arizona, where it was founded in 1972. PSI scientists are involved in numerous NASA and international missions, the study of Mars and other planets, the Moon, asteroids, comets, interplanetary dust, impact physics, the origin of the solar system, extra-solar planet formation, dynamics, the rise of life, and other areas of research. They conduct fieldwork in North America, Australia and Africa. They also are actively involved in science education and public outreach through school programs, children’s books, popular science books and art. PSI scientists are based in 17 states, the United Kingdom, Switzerland, Russia, Australia and Canada.