Comparing Volcanoes: Earth and Io
Earth eruptions are very violent, noisy, or somewhat quiet. Io's massive eruptions are much more violent, hotter, and longer lived than those on Earth. Earth's volcanoes are fueled by radioactive decay whereas Io's volcanoes are fueled by tidal heating. Earth volcanic activities are violently- explosive, mild, or moderate. Io's eruptions are always violent, due to high sulfur content.
Earth volcanoes have specific shapes depending on the geologic processes involved. They are broad-gently sloping or small-steep sloping or anywhere in between. Shield, cinder and composite cones are the most popular terrestrial ones. Io's volcanoes are in shapes similar to those on Earth: plumes, shields, calderas and hot spots. They are huge and eject tons of materials into Jupiter's magnetosphere.
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