Scientists have discovered direct geological evidence of recent volcanic activity on the surface of Venus. They were able to make the discovery by analyzing archival radar images taken more than 30 years ago by NASA’s Magellan mission.
Discovery of Recent Volcanic Activity on Venus
The images revealed a volcanic vent changing shape and increasing significantly in size. The research team identified the vent in Atla Regio, a highland region near Venus’ equator that hosts two of the planet’s largest volcanoes, Ozza Mons and Maat Mons. The team had long suspected that this region was volcanically active, but had no direct evidence to support their claims.
The research team, led by Justin Filiberto of the Lunar and Planetary Institute in Houston, collaborated with Scott Hensley, a specialist in analyzing radar data from the Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Southern California. The researchers used computer models of the vent in various configurations to test different geological-event scenarios. They concluded that only an eruption could have caused the change.
VERITAS Mission
The discovery has spurred the development of NASA’s new Venus mission, VERITAS. The Venus Emissivity, Radio science, InSAR, Topography, And Spectroscopy mission will study Venus from surface to core to understand how a rocky planet about the same size as Earth developed into a world covered in volcanic plains and deformed terrain hidden beneath a thick, hot, toxic atmosphere.
VERITAS will use state-of-the-art synthetic aperture radar to create 3D global maps and a near-infrared spectrometer to figure out what the surface is made of. The spacecraft will also measure the planet’s gravitational field to determine the structure of Venus’ interior. Together, the instruments will offer clues about the planet’s past and present geologic processes.
The discovery of recent volcanic activity on Venus is a significant breakthrough. With the VERITAS and EnVision missions, researchers will have the opportunity to study Venus in more detail and reveal its innermost secrets. The data collected by these missions will be available online to the science community, enabling researchers to apply cutting-edge techniques, such as machine learning, to analyze the planet and make new discoveries.
