Pluto's Surprising Secret Ice Volcano Could Be Larger than Yellowstone, NASA Reveals

Recent research accessible on the preprint database arXiv proposes that Kiladze Caldera, a crater on Pluto, could have been a supervolcano that discharged substantial quantities of icy substances from the dwarf planet's interior.

Information collected by the New Horizons spacecraft during its 2015 flyby of Pluto indicates a historical phase of cryovolcanic activity, different from the conventional volcanic emissions of molten rock, ash, and gas observed on Earth, as Kiladze Caldera could have been an ice volcano, emitting ice, water, and compounds such as ammonia.

Exploring Pluto's Mysterious Ice Volcanoes

Cryovolcanism, characterized by the eruption of ice and volatile substances instead of molten rock, has piqued the interest of scientists in the Solar System. Notable examples include cryovolcanic activity on the dwarf planet Ceres in the asteroid belt, showcasing the unique nature of these icy eruptions.

Additionally, Saturn's moon Enceladus has garnered attention for its plumes, likely originating from cryovolcanic processes, sparking discussions about subsurface oceans and the potential for extraterrestrial life. This phenomenon sheds light on the diverse geological processes operating throughout the Solar System.

Furthermore, studying the distant Pluto opens another chapter of cryovolcanic discovery. A recent revelation, led by NASA planetary scientist Dale Cruikshank, suggests that Pluto's Kiladze Caldera might not be a typical impact crater, as previously believed, but a cryovolcanic structure.

Researchers reevaluated Kiladze's classification as a supervolcano due to its distinctive features, including its unique surroundings with water ice beneath layers of methane snow and other deposits reminiscent of Pluto's "smog." The most compelling evidence was the discovery of ammonia within the water ice around Kiladze, which could lower the freezing point of water, allowing it to flow as liquid cryo-lava, a process quite different from Earth's volcanoes. Notably, ammonia's presence is significant in the chemistry that leads to the formation of amino acids, essential components of life.

The presence of water ice surrounding Kiladze suggests that this cryovolcanic structure is relatively young. Accumulation of materials over time allows exposed areas to serve as indicators of recent volcanic activity, with scientists estimating that Kiladze and its vicinity have experienced eruptions within the past few million years, contributing to our knowledge of Pluto's dynamic processes.

Cryovolcanoes remain an intriguing and enigmatic phenomenon, shedding light on the diverse and complex geological processes throughout the solar system. These icy eruptions challenge our understanding of planetary mechanisms and, in some cases, open up possibilities for habitable environments and the origins of life beyond Earth.

Origins of Pluto's Cryo-Lava

If Kiladze is indeed a supervolcano, it likely erupted within the last few million years on Pluto, a relatively recent event in the planet's 4.5-billion-year history. This conclusion is based on the accumulation of methane ice layers caused by ongoing smog particle deposition, suggesting that Kiladze's volcanic activity occurred relatively recently.

Volcanic eruptions, even those involving ice, require heat to occur. Recent cryovolcanic activity on Pluto indicates the presence of more internal heat than previously assumed, possibly from radioactive elements in its core. Further investigations into Kiladze could provide insights into what lies beneath the dwarf planet's surface: an extensive liquid ocean or isolated pockets of water.

The key unanswered question pertains to the source of the water cryo-lava. Pluto is believed to have once possessed a global-scale internal ocean during a distant, warmer period resulting from its formation.

Lingering heat within the planet's core, in conjunction with freeze-resistant compounds like ammonia, could be responsible for keeping this ocean partially liquid, periodically releasing it through cryovolcanoes such as Kiladze.

Alternatively, the subsurface ocean may have frozen over long ago, leaving small reservoirs of water that supply structures like Kiladze. This intriguing puzzle awaits the attention of future planetary scientists.