Recent research has confirmed the existence of active volcanoes on Venus. Thanks to the analysis of radar data from NASA’s Magellan mission, conducted between 1990 and 1994, scientists were able to identify new lava flows on the planet’s surface. This represents a significant discovery, demonstrating that volcanoes of Venus they are still in business.
The Magellan mission provided detailed radar images of the planet’s surface, allowing scientists to observe variations over time. Researchers Davide Sulcanese, Giuseppe Mitri and Marco Mastrogiuseppe analyzed these images, identifying new lava flows on the western flank of Sif Mons and in the volcanic plain of Niobe Planitia.
Sulcanese explained:
“The variation in the radar response on the surface allowed us to confirm not only that some volcanoes on Venus were active in geologically recent times, but that this activity is still continuing today.”
The characteristics of Venus
The planet, often compared to Earth due to its size and mass, has very different environmental conditions. His dense carbon dioxide atmosphere and average surface temperatures exceeding 460°C make it an inhospitable environment for life. However, these extreme conditions did not prevent volcanic activity. Recent studies have suggested that Venus could experience up to 42 volcanic eruptions per year, some of which last more than 1,000 Earth days.
To deepen our knowledge of volcanic activity on Venus, two missions are being planned: TRUTH and EnVision. These missions will use advanced radar technologies to explore the planet’s surface. Italy participates in the VERITAS mission through a collaboration between the Italian Space Agency and the Jet Propulsion Laboratorycontributing with the development and creation of three on-board instruments.
These new missions will help collect more complete, high-resolution data than the Magellan mission, allowing us to expand our understanding of the Earth-like twin’s geological activity.
What do you think of these new discoveries? Share your thoughts in the comments!
#Discoveries #active #volcanoes #Venus
