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Exploring Volcanism in the Inner Solar System

Delve into the volcanic activity of Mercury, Venus, Earth's Moon, and Mars, comparing their features, types of volcanoes, and lava compositions, offering insights into the cooling histories of inner planets. Analyze volcanic structures, consider similarities and differences, and ponder the implications for outer planets. Discover how studying volcanoes on other planets provides valuable lessons for Earth's geology and planetary exploration.

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Exploring Volcanism in the Inner Solar System

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  1. Volcanism in the Solar SystemPart 1: Inner Solar System Justin Filiberto Lunar and Planetary Institute

  2. Plan of Talk • Earth - review • Inner Solar System • Mercury • Venus • Moon • Mars • Outer Solar System • Io • Enceladus • Titan • Triton • Summarize Volcanoes in the Solar System

  3. Earth’s Shield Volcanoes

  4. Earth’s Composite/Stratovolcanos

  5. Shield vs. Composite

  6. Earth’s Volcanoes • Cinder Cone • Caldera Complex • Lava Flows • Tuff Ring • And many more…

  7. Mercury Mercury Earth • From Sun (AU) 0.39 1.0 • Mean radius (km) 2434 6371 • Mass (1024kg) 3.30 5.98 • Surface T (K) 340 295 • Gravity (m s-2) 3.7 9.8

  8. Mercury Volcanoes Seen by Messenger Spacecraft more to come…

  9. Mercury

  10. Venus Venus Earth • From Sun (AU) 0.72 1.0 • Mean radius (km) 6052 6371 • Mass (1024kg) 4.87 5.98 • Surface T (K) 735 295 • Gravity (m s-2) 8.9 9.8

  11. Venus Surface Landers: Venera & VEGA

  12. Sapas Mons • 400 km across, 1.5 km tall • Slope ~ 0.5° • Very long flows • What type of Volcano?

  13. JPL Press Image 20x Vertical Exaggeration Unexaggerated … What type of Volcano? Maat Mons

  14. Single Flows, Steep sides Height 1/2 - 1 km. What kind of volcano? What kind of lava? Pancake Domes

  15. Rhyolite? Or merely cold, crystal-rich basalt? What kind of volcano? What kind of lava? Pancake Domes

  16. ? • Low cones in flat lava plains • A few km diam. (5 km for inset) • What type of lava? • What kind of volcano?

  17. Venus vs. Earth

  18. Moon • 1/3 diam of Earth • 1/6 gravity • Dark, low, mare plains.

  19. Mare Plains

  20. Channels

  21. Domes • Gruithuisen domes • 20 km across, 1.2 km tall. Avg ~7° slope; steepest ~20°. • Are these volcanic? • If so, what are they most like on Earth?

  22. Gruithuisen Domes

  23. Mars Mars Earth • From Sun (AU) 1.5 1.0 • Mean radius (km) 3386 6371 • Mass (1024kg) 0.642 5.98 • Surface T (K) 227 295 • Gravity (m s-2) 3.7 9.8

  24. Olympus Mons • 640 x 840 km across • 21 km tall • Avg slope 5° • What kind of volcano? • What kind of lava?

  25. Lava Flows on O.M. 1 <-- - - - - 3 km - - - - -->

  26. Tharsis Tholus • 150 km across • 8 km tall • What kind of volcano? • What kind of lava?

  27. On Syrtis Major, a Shield Volcano • Small Hill • Steep Slope, ~30° • Surrounded by thin lava flows • What is it?

  28. On Syrtis Major, a Shield Volcano • Broken Cinder Cone?

  29. Inner Solar System Summary • What features? • Types of volcanoes? Lava compositions? • Similarities? Differences? Generalities? • What types of volcanoes are common to the Earth only? Why? • What types of volcanoes are common in the inner solar system? • What does this suggest about the cooling histories of the inner planets?

  30. Some questions to ponder • What types of volcanoes are common to the Earth only? Why? • What types of volcanoes are common in the inner solar system but not the outer? Why? • What does this suggest about the cooling histories of the inner planets? Outer planets?

  31. Some questions to ponder • From the volcanoes we have seen which ones would we expect on which planets? • What do they suggest about other planets? • Since most of us do not live near a volcano, how can students connect volcanoes on the Earth and other planets?

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