the Proposed Interior Structure of Pluto (IMAGE)

Hokkaido University

the Proposed Interior Structure of Pluto

Caption

The proposed interior structure of Pluto. A thin clathrate (gas) hydrate layer works as a thermal insulator between the subsurface ocean and the ice shell, keeping the ocean from freezing.

Credit

Kamata S. et al., Pluto's ocean is capped and insulated by gas hydrates. <em>Nature Geosciences</em>, May 20, 2019.

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