Scientists said that the biggest volcano on Jupiter moon lo could erupt soon. They said that Loki Patera, a 125-mile-wide lava lake in a crater-like depression called a patera could explode within the next few days.
Loki
Loki was originally discovered to have a cycle of around 540 days based on observations conducted between 1988 and 2000.
It is not clear what drives the volcano's outbursts but leading theories suggest of a process that is very different from what causes volcanic eruptions on Earth. Eruption of Loki Patera occurs when its top layer solidifies and then falls into the liquid lake below.
Pre-Explosion Cycle
At the onset of an explosion, Loki would brighten and remain bright for around 230 days before it would fall dark again.
The cycle would then repeat like clockwork, but in 2001, the volcano stopped brightening and dimming. After a relatively long hiatus, the volcano started with its cycle again in 2013.
The cycle though is now shorter. Instead of the usual 540 days, it is now 475 days.
It is not yet clear what caused the hiatus in the cycle between 2001 and 2013, but this could have involved changes in the volatile content in the magma that can affect the density of the magma and the crust.
Even small changes can result in large variations in the time it takes the crust to sink.
"We think that Loki could be predictable because it is so large. Because of its size, basic physics are likely to dominate when it erupts, so the small complications that affect smaller volcanoes are likely to not affect Loki as much," said Julie Rathbun, a senior scientist at the Planetary Science Institute in Tucson, Arizona.
Volcanic Eruption May Occur This Month
Rathbun said that if the volcano's behavior remains the same, it could erupt this month. Scientists have correctly predicted the volcano's last eruption that occurred in May 2018.
The last eruption began sometime between May 23 and June 6, 2018, which means that the 475-day window is between Sept. 9 and 24.
The volcanic activities of lo can help scientists better understand the volcano and lo, the most volcanically active object in the Solar System.
