![]() Regarding ancient evolution steps in the solar system, it is important stressing that even much tinier impacts than Theia with Gaia were much more common and have played a stronger role in melting parts of a planet, asteroid, or moon, especially during the late heavy bombardment (LHB). Also during this early phase, tidal heating may have played a much bigger role for both objects, as they have been much closer together. For Earth and Moon during the assumed collision of their precursor bodies Theia and Gaia, a transfer of the core of Theia into the forming core of the Earth may have increased also the amount of heavier and so radioactive elements, increasing the power for volcanism on Earth and by this decreasing it on the Moon. Bigger objects with lower surface-to-volume ratios are tending to stay hotter for a longer period and are able to sustain volcanism longer. The energy retention behavior (and so also the duration of volcanic activity) is among other factors strongly depending on surface-to-volume ratios regardless of energy source. Some of the following general considerations may also apply to forms of energy resources. Both may gain also energy from friction that is arising from the resulting tectonic activity. For Io, it is mainly based on tidal heating from the huge tidal forces raised by the gas giant it is orbiting in its crust and upper mantle. For the Earth, it is mainly based on the conserved accretion/contraction energy from its formation, decay of radioactive elements pulled into the mantle and center of the planet by gravity-induced differentiation, and also on friction rising from the resulting tectonic activity. These two objects already show us also the main energy categories on which volcanism, as we know it, relies on. The temperature of magma below the surface may have still higher temperatures. ![]() The known temperatures rise to about 1600 K on Io in the volcanoes on the surface, while on Earth about 1000 K to 1550 K temperature in the lava is reached depending on the composition of the rocks. This is generally better known under silicious-based/silicate volcanism because silicate is the most dominating component in liquid rocks. The most prominent objects in our solar system harboring active volcanoes are both an example of what may be named high-temperature range volcanism as rocks are molten and are apparent in the form of glowing liquid lava on Earth and on the moon Io. As an introduction, for reference and to characterize the main features as a base for better comparison, a rough overview of its counterpart silicate volcanism as well as underlying types of energy sources in the solar system are given. The main aim of this chapter is to consider cryovolcanism powered by tidal heating and its potential in exosystems. New types of volcanism still unthought of, might be a challenging research topic but may not be considered here. All considerations and models for volcanism in other stellar systems are built upon our knowledge from our own system. This chapter aims at considering the parameters known and objects found so far in our solar system to give insights into where in our system and other planetary systems cryovolcanism might be expected.Īll types of volcanism known until now are in the solar system. Even though Io as an example of a body supporting silicate volcanism is striking, the physics of tidal forces might suggest a relatively high probability for cryovolcanism. The dependence of tidal heating on the size of the object is minor, but the masses of and the distances to accompanying bodies as well as the inner compositions of the heated body are central factors. On the other hand, the impact of tidal forces allows even tiny bodies to melt up and pass into the stage of cryovolcanism. ![]() Energy sources powered by accretion and the decay of radioactive isotopes seem to be dominant mainly inside larger bodies, which have enough volume to accumulate and retain this energy in significant amounts. Remnants of this type of volcanism have been identified also on other bodies in the solar system. Volcanism based on melting rocks (silicate volcanism) is long known on Earth and has also been found on Jupiter’s moon Io. ![]()
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