Colloquium: Gert-Jan van der Wel (Space)

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 is significant for all harmonic degrees, up to at least degree 30, so it could be either case. 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), both methods point towards the asthenospheric heating model or magma ocean heating model as the explanation for Io’s heat flow pattern, despite their differences.

Supervisor: Wouter van der Wal