Volcanic Activity on Io
Speaker: British English
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Jupiter possesses several large natural satellites, but none exhibits more violent than Io. Unlike the icy worlds further out, Io experiences constant gravitational tugging between Jupiter and neighbouring moons. This intense tidal friction generates immense internal which continuously melts rock beneath the frozen crust. As a consequence, hundreds of active erupt across the surface, ejecting plumes of sulphur hundreds of kilometres into space. Planetary scientists have observed that this ongoing resurfacing completely erases impact craters, making Io the most geologically body known in the outer solar system.