Pluto's strange ice patterns explained by new theory
Nature Podcast
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Using Sublimation to Cool the Plumes
Pluto's polygons are troughs, showing that convection currents must be rising up from the centre of each shape and sinking at the edges. To explain this cooling from above, stephan and his team turned to sublimation. This is the process similar to evaporation, by which the nitrogen spunic planitia turns into nitrogen gas. And so we think that's exactly what's happening at the sufface of putni planitia.
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