Image of the south pole of Triton taken by Voyager 2 in 1989. The dark spots are signs of cryovolcanic plumes. Cryovolcanism is the formation of ice volcanoes
in extremely low temperature environments. Rather than
molten rock, these volcanoes erupt volatiles
such as water, ammonia or methane compounds.
Collectively referred to as cryomagma, these substances are usually
liquids and form flumes, but can also
be in vapour form. After eruption cryomagma condenses to a solid
form when exposed to the very low surrounding temperature.
Ice volcanoes have been observed on Triton during
the Voyager 2 flyby. Indirect evidence of cryovolcanic activity
have been observed on several icy moons of
our solar system.
These include
Europa,
Ganymede,
Enceladus and
Titan. In particular, the Cassini-Huygens mission has
increased the amount of evidence for cryovolcanism on Titan.
It is also hypothesised that the Kuiper belt object
Quaoar had exhibited cryovolcanism in the past.
See also
External links
- Triton (http://www.nineplanets.org/triton.html) - Triton at the Nine Planets
- South Pole of Triton (http://www.solarviews.com/cap/nep/triton1.htm) - Triton at SolarViews.com
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