What factor directly correlates with the type of surface geology observed across diverse active moons?
Answer
The chemical composition of the layer being heated
A key finding when comparing the various active worlds, such as Io (magma), Europa (water), and Titan (methane), is that the specific type of surface geology displayed is directly correlated with the chemical makeup of the layer undergoing thermal excitation. A world with a rocky mantle will erupt lava; a world with an ice shell over a liquid water layer will vent water vapor or slush; and a world featuring surface methane ice will instead drive methane flows, allowing researchers to predict processes on unobserved icy worlds.
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