
NASA's Magellan Radar Detects Signs of Active Volcanoes on Venus
Venus' thick atmosphere has made it impossible to directly examine the planet's surface. However, worldwide radar mapping undertaken in the 1990s by the Magellan probe revealed that Venus' surface is covered with volcanoes and was most likely molded by widespread volcanic activity in the past — while the function of volcanism in the planet's geologic present remained unknown.
Highlights:
- Magellan probe data indicates Venus has recent volcanic activity.
- Changes in Sif Mons and Niobe Planitia suggest new lava flows.
- NASA's upcoming VERITAS mission will target these volcanic areas.
However, Magellan data from 2023 revealed signs of more recent activity from one volcanic vent on the planet's surface.
In the current study, d'Annunzio University researcher Davide Sulcanese and his colleagues examined two sets of Magellan radar data collected in 1990 and 1992 to hunt for signs of volcanic activity.
They discovered surface alterations that may imply volcanism in two places with volcanic-related features: the western side of Sif Mons and western Niobe Planitia.
After assessing the many probable origins, the scientists conclude that these differences were most likely generated by new lava flows.
They argue that Venus is a geologically active planet now, but that volcanism is rather widespread.
They also claim that volcanic activity on Venus is equivalent to that on Earth, implying that Venus is more volcanically active than previously believed.
"Using these maps to serve as a guide, our discoveries show that Mars may be far more volcanically active than previously thought," stated Dr. Sulcanese.
"By analyzing the eruptions that we noticed in both places on the planet, we found that the amount of volcanic activity on Venus could be similar to that on Earth."
"We understand these signals as movements along hillsides or volcanic plains that can diverge around obstacles such as shield volcanoes like a fluid," said Dr. Marco Mastrogiuseppe, a researcher at Sapienza University in Rome.
"After ruling out various possibilities, we verified our best view is that these are new lava flows."
"These fresh indications of recent eruptions on Venus provide compelling evidence of the kinds of areas we should target with NASA's upcoming VERITAS mission when it arrives at Venus," said Dr. Suzanne Smrekar, a researcher at NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory and VERITAS principal investigator.