Explosive volcanism on Mercury and the Moon: Insights into the nature of sub-surface magma storage - Essay Example

Magma may as well contain suspended crystals, dissolved gas and sometimes gas bubbles. The new lunar data suggests that there is the presence of more volatiles than it was previously suspected, thus increasing spectral resolution that provides insights into the mineralogy and a mode of emplacement of pyroclastic deposits. With a diameter of 154-km of Ionian-like pyroclastic ring is found around a central elongate vent structure in southern Orientale basin. Its characteristics are and placed in the spectrum of explosive lunar volcanism, which ranges from pyroclastic spatter cones to regional dark mantle deposits.

Mercury, on the other hand, has recently shown to contain more of pyroclastic deposits widespread globally compared to those on the moon. Those deposit diameters mapping to lunar gravity conditions is larger compared to their lunar counterparts. Such conditions show that there are more available volatiles present during typical eruptions compared to those on the Moon. Moreover, new models for the ascent and the eruption of magma lead to plininan eruptions, as mapping of eruptions into atmospheric general circulation models.

It, therefore, causes predictions on the locations its distribution. In addition, accumulation rates, and finally volumes of pyroclastic deposits. Such models suggest that the formation of Medusae Fossae may be a pyroclastic deposit from eruptions of Apollinaris Patera. The study mentioned in the abstract was done using two types of research methods, which include; observation and sampling methods. However, the study of magma does depend a lot on observing magma in the form of lava outflows (Brophy and Pinnegar).

Observation is a crucial way of finding out about the world around us. However, as a method of collecting data for research purposes, it is more than just looking or listening thus making it systematic and selective. Systematic observation entails careful planning of what the researcher need to observe. The