Astronomy and Astrophysics – Astronomy
Scientific paper
Nov 1980
adsabs.harvard.edu/cgi-bin/nph-data_query?bibcode=1980icar...44..268c&link_type=abstract
(IAU, American Astronautical Society, COSPAR, University of Hawaii, and NASA, Colloquium on the Satellites of Jupiter, 5th, Kail
Astronomy and Astrophysics
Astronomy
42
Calderas, Crusts, Io, Satellite Surfaces, Silicates, Sulfur, Abundance, Escarpments, Heat Transmission, Shear Strength, Sulfur Dioxides, Surface Temperature, Volcanology
Scientific paper
The mechanical properties of elemental sulfur are such that the upper crust of Io cannot be primarily sulfur. For heat flows in the range 100-1000 ergs/sq cm sec sulfur becomes ductile within several hundred meters of the surface and would prevent the formation of calderas with depths greater than this. However, the one caldera for which precise depth data are available is 2 km deep, and this value may be typical. A study of the mechanical equilibrium of simple slopes shows that the depth to the zone of rapid ductile flow strongly controls the maximum heights for sulfur slopes. Sulfur scarps with heights greater than 1 km will fail for all heat flows greater than 180 ergs/sq cm sec and slope angles greater than 22.5 deg. The observed relief on Io is inconsistent with that anticipated for a predominantly sulfur crust. However, a silicate crust with several percent sulfur included satisfies both the mechanical constraints and the observed presence of sulfur on Io.
Carr Michael H.
Clow Gary D.
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