Io'
s volcanic structures and young resurfaced regions indicate strong ongoing geological activity, despite
a low
sunlight-
set equilibrium temperature.
Tidal dissipation forced by its orbital interactions supplies interior
energy. Europa'
s fractured relatively lightly cratered
ice indicates resurfacing and
a mechanically active
ice shell on geological timescales, with
tidal heating a plausible contributor;
surface appearance alone does not prove every
fracture is currently opening. Ganymede has both older cratered regions and grooved younger terrain, indicating
a more varied resurfacing
history; primordial/radiogenic
heat and past
tides can
matter. Callisto'
s heavily cratered
surface suggests much less extensive recent resurfacing, without proving that all interior activity or subsurface
liquid is absent.