cryolava

Cryolava is a term used to describe lava-like flows of extremely cold, viscous liquids. Unlike molten rock lava, which is expelled from volcanoes at high temperatures, cryolava is found in extremely cold environments such as on some moons of Jupiter and Saturn. These frigid fluids are typically composed of water, ammonia, or methane, and their low temperatures mean they behave much like molten rock in terms of flow dynamics.

The concept of cryolava is particularly relevant to the study of cryovolcanism, a geological process where liquids erupt from the interior of icy celestial bodies. When these supercooled liquids emerge onto the surface, they can form flows that resemble terrestrial lava flows. The viscosity of the cryolava depends on its composition and temperature, with some flows being thick and slow-moving, while others can be more fluid.

Cryovolcanic features, including potential cryolava flows, have been observed or inferred on several icy moons in the outer solar system. For instance, features on Enceladus, a moon of Saturn, and Europa, a moon of Jupiter, have been interpreted as evidence of cryovolcanic activity. Studying cryolava helps scientists understand the internal composition and thermal processes of these distant worlds, offering clues about their potential to host subsurface oceans and, possibly, life. The study of cryolava is an active area of planetary science research.