Comments on: Found: New Evidence of Ice Volcanoes on Titan

By: starwindwalker

starwindwalker — Wed, 24 Aug 2011 23:29:34 +0000

Ammonia keeps the freezing temperature of water down to make it “molten”. Thermal processes are likely involved as well, and definitely responsible for eruptions; to what extent is what will be most interesting. All the ingredients are present for amino acids to form; methane, hydrogen, nitrogen & water; yet the rock-hard, ice surface is too frigid. Perhaps vast sub-surface, slush lakes or “oceans” exist beneath the ice, at temperatures friendly to the formation of organic compounds.

By: Katharine

Katharine — Wed, 15 Dec 2010 18:48:39 +0000

Nitpick: The mantle is actually kinda solid. Magma develops within the mantle or crust when temperature-pressure conditions favor the molten state.

By: quarksparrow

quarksparrow — Wed, 15 Dec 2010 17:53:55 +0000

@Darius2025: The reasons why ice is less dense than water are pretty well understood. Not sure why you’d say that.

By: Darius2025

Darius2025 — Wed, 15 Dec 2010 16:44:32 +0000

@ Chris: Only if the ice is water-ice, which seems to be special for some reason we can’t yet fathom.

By: Chris

Chris — Wed, 15 Dec 2010 16:25:17 +0000

Even a small amount of internal heat could create molten ices. Because the liquid would be less dense, it would force its way to the surface.
Isn’t water denser that the ice, ice floats. Maybe mixed with ammonia and other things, the density change gets flipped.