2024/03/05 by J. P. Morgenthaler, Carl Schmidt, Morgenthaler, Jeffrey P. +7
Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology · Physics and Astronomy · #Astro and Planetary Science #Earth and Planetary Astrophysics (astro-ph.EP) #FOS: Physical sciences #Geomagnetism and Paleomagnetism Studies #Instrumentation and Methods for Astrophysics (astro-ph.IM) #Ionosphere and magnetosphere dynamics #Space Physics (physics.space-ph)
paper · pdf · doi:10.48550/arxiv.2403.03131
openalex publication_date 2024/03/05 · openalex created_date 2024/03/07 · openalex updated_date 2026/07/28
We present first results derived from the largest collection of contemporaneously recorded Jovian sodium nebula and Io plasma torus (IPT) in [S II] 673.1 nm images assembled to date. The data were recorded by the Planetary Science Institute's Io Input/Output observatory (IoIO) and provide important context to Io geologic and atmospheric studies as well as the Juno mission and supporting observations. Enhancements in the observed emission are common, typically lasting 1 -- 3 months, such that the average flux of material from Io is determined by the enhancements, not any quiescent state. The enhancements are not seen at periodicities associated with modulation in solar insolation of Io's surface, thus physical process(es) other than insolation-driven sublimation must ultimately drive the bulk of Io's atmospheric escape. We suggest that geologic activity, likely involving volcanic plumes, drives escape.