Triton's geyser-like plumes - Discovery and basic characterization

Details Triton's geyser-like plumes - Discovery and basic characterization Triton's geyser-like plumes - Discovery and basic characterization

Oct 1990

adsabs.harvard.edu/cgi-bin/nph-data_query?bibcode=1990sci...250..410s&link_type=abstract

Science (ISSN 0036-8075), vol. 250, Oct. 19, 1990, p. 410-415.

Physics

46

Geysers, Planetary Geology, Satellite Atmospheres, Triton, Greenhouse Effect, Planetary Temperature, Solar Heating, Voyager 2 Spacecraft

Scientific paper

One model for the mechanism driving the plumes of the four active geyser-like eruptions observed by Voyager 2 on Triton is a heating up of nitrogen ice in a subsurface greenhouse environment, where nitrogen gas pressurized by solar heating explosively vents to the surface carrying clouds of ice and dark particles into the atmosphere. A temperature increase of less than 4 K above the ambient surface value of 38 + or - 3 K suffices to drive the plumes to 8-km altitude. Each eruption may last a year or more, over the course of which 0.1 cu km of ice is sublimed.

Affiliated with

Also associated with

No associations

Rating

Triton's geyser-like plumes - Discovery and basic characterization does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this scientific paper.

If you have personal experience with Triton's geyser-like plumes - Discovery and basic characterization, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Triton's geyser-like plumes - Discovery and basic characterization will most certainly appreciate the feedback.

Rate now

Comments { 0 }

Profile ID: LFWR-SCP-O-1305648