Loki, Io - Lava Lake Model and Ground-based Observations on the Eve of the New Horizons Encounter

Details Loki, Io - Lava Lake Model and Ground-based Observations on the Eve of the New Horizons Encounter Loki, Io - Lava Lake Model and Ground-based Observations on the Eve of the New Horizons Encounter

Sep 2006

adsabs.harvard.edu/cgi-bin/nph-data_query?bibcode=2006dps....38.3002r&link_type=abstract

American Astronomical Society, DPS meeting #38, #30.02; Bulletin of the American Astronomical Society, Vol. 38, p.537

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Scientific paper

Loki is the most powerful volcano in the solar system, powerful enough for its infrared brightness to be measured from the ground. Ten years of measurements from NASA's Infrared Telescope Facility (IRTF) show that Loki brightened by a factor of several periodically every 540 days through 2001. From 2001 through 2003 Loki remained at a fairly constant, intermediate brightness, and a new eruption began in late 2004. We have constructed a quantitative model of Loki as a lava lake whose solidified crust overturns when it becomes gravitationally unstable. By altering the model's singe parameter, the speed at which the overturn propagates across the patera, we can match both the 3.5 micron brightness observations and the observed duration of the brightening events. In addition, we can match the detailed variations in observed brightness by varying the speed over time. Further, we can match data taken at other wavelengths. By dramatically slowing the speed, we can match the intermediate brightnesses observed from 2001-2003. Such slowing could be due to a small change in volatile content in the lava.
We continue our IRTF measurements of Loki in preparation for the New Horizons spacecraft's encounter with Jupiter next year. Knowing the recent history of Loki's brightness will allow us to place the New Horizons data into context. We will also be looking for any other unusual volcanic activity on Io.
The PI is funded through the NASA Outer Planets Research program.

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