Convection in a volatile nitrogen-ice-rich layer drives Pluto’s geological vigour

William B. McKinnon (), Francis Nimmo, Teresa Wong, Paul M. Schenk, Oliver L. White, J. H. Roberts, J. M. Moore, J. R. Spencer, A. D. Howard, O. M. Umurhan, S. A. Stern, H. A. Weaver, C. B. Olkin, L. A. Young and K. E. Smith
Additional contact information
William B. McKinnon: Washington University in St Louis
Francis Nimmo: University of California Santa Cruz
Teresa Wong: Washington University in St Louis
Paul M. Schenk: Lunar and Planetary Institute
Oliver L. White: National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) Ames Research Center
J. H. Roberts: Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory
J. M. Moore: National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) Ames Research Center
J. R. Spencer: Southwest Research Institute
A. D. Howard: University of Virginia
O. M. Umurhan: National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) Ames Research Center
S. A. Stern: Southwest Research Institute
H. A. Weaver: Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory
C. B. Olkin: Southwest Research Institute
L. A. Young: Southwest Research Institute
K. E. Smith: National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) Ames Research Center

Nature, 2016, vol. 534, issue 7605, 82-85

Abstract: The volatile-ice-filled basin informally named Sputnik Planum is central to Pluto’s geological activity; this ice layer is organized into cells or polygons, and it is now shown that convective overturn in a several-kilometre-thick layer of solid nitrogen can explain both the presence of the cells and their great width.

Date: 2016
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DOI: 10.1038/nature18289

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