Long wavelength analysis of Io's hotspots
G.J. van der Wel (TU Delft - Aerospace Engineering)
W Van Der Wal – Mentor (TU Delft - Planetary Exploration)
E Mooij – Graduation committee member (TU Delft - Astrodynamics & Space Missions)
Sijme Jan Paardekooper – Graduation committee member (TU Delft - Planetary Exploration)
A.K. Veenstra – Graduation committee member (TU Delft - Aerospace Engineering)
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Abstract
For this Thesis a weighted spherical harmonic analysis is performed on the intensity distribution of Io's hotspots to find potential long wavelength patterns. Unfortunately, no definitive conclusion can be drawn as to whether the primary signal (Loki Patera) is caused by a long wavelength signal originating from deep within Io, or whether it is caused by a local phenomenon. This is because the spectral power associated with the analysis does not just have significant power in one or a few degrees. Instead all harmonic degrees return a strong signal. This has been checked up to at least degree 30 which is well into the shorter wavelengths.
Comparing the weighted spherical harmonic analysis of Io’s hotspot intensity distribution to an unweighted spherical harmonic analysis of the hotspot distribution (so without intensities), the location of the primary signal(s) is different between the two analyses, but both still point towards the asthenospheric heating model or magma ocean heating model as the explanation for Io’s heat flow pattern.