Is H2O Present on Io? The Detection of a New Strong Band Near 3590 cm-1 (2.79 μm)

A strong absorption band at 3590 ± 20 cm-1 (2.790 ± 0.015 μm) has been discovered in the spectrum of Io using the Kuiper Airborne Observatory (KAO). The 2v1 + v3 combination mode of solid SO2 falls at this position. Since SO2 is abundant on Io it must contribute to the new band. However, a band due to H2O was predicted near this frequency in Io's spectrum based on laboratory experiments of H2O: SO2 mixed Io ice analogs which were used to assign the two weak, variable features at 3370 and 3170 cm-1 (2.97 and 3.15 μm) to trace amounts of H2O frozen in solid SO2 on Io. The new band probably originates from both SO2 and H2O. Unfortunately, the spectral resolution of the data is insufficient to settle the issue of whether there are two resolvable components.