Recent research suggests that Venus may exhibit tectonic activity, challenging the long-held belief that it is geologically dead. Since their discovery in 1983, the circular landforms known as coronae on Venus have puzzled scientists. This new study indicates that these formations are shaped by hot plumes of rock rising from the planet’s mantle, leading to the hypothesis that the surface of Venus is indeed subject to tectonic processes similar to those on Earth. The findings, presented in Science Advances, point towards a dynamic surface rather than a static one.
A solid body of evidence challenges the notion of Venus as inactive. Earth and planetary scientist Anna Gülcher from the University of Bern emphasizes this shift in understanding, highlighting the significant geological activity that the evidence supports. By employing simulations that model how Venus’s crust responds to the movement of material from its mantle, researchers were able to predict how underground plumes would manifest in observable geological features. This study utilized data collected by NASA’s Magellan spacecraft, which provided critical information about the planet’s topography and gravity from the 1990s.
The researchers identified plumes beneath 52 coronae, providing insight into the geological processes sculpting these forms. One notable process postulated is subduction, where tectonic plates collide and one slips beneath the other. On Venus, without tectonic plates, a similar phenomenon might occur at the edges of coronae. As hot material rises, it can create pressure on the crust surrounding these formations, leading to potential downward bends in stronger crustal flanges or detachments in weaker areas—akin to honey dripping from a spoon. Such insights reveal the complexity of tectonic processes on Venus.
This understanding has profound implications for the planet’s geological history and seismic activity. Gülcher suggests that if Venus is indeed tectonically active, it raises the possibility that the planet could have been more Earth-like in its earlier history, potentially featuring conditions that could support life. The prospect of Venus having been habitable at some point further complicates our understanding of planetary evolution and the history of habitability in the solar system.
Moreover, the modeling techniques developed in this research will enhance the capabilities of future missions to Venus, such as the upcoming VERITAS mission. This mission aims to gather high-resolution data, which will be invaluable for validating and refining the simulations presented in the current study. The ability to predict phenomena observable by spacecraft provides a valuable tool for understanding Venus’s present and past.
As scientists continue to explore these findings, the discourse around Venus’s geological activity is evolving. The recognition that it may experience seismic events similar to Earth suggests not only a geological continuity across planetary bodies but also deeper questions about the nature of habitable environments beyond Earth. What remains to be seen is how these insights will shape future explorations and what they will reveal about the history of Venus and its potential for habitability.
