The many volcanoes that cover the surface of Venus are still active and could even see eruptions that are similar to that of volcanoes on Earth.
While scientists have known that volcanoes cover Venus, very minimal proof of volcanic activity has been discovered more recently compared to that of 2.5 million years ago.
Venus: All About the Brightest Planet in the Solar System
Venus is typically known to be the sister planet of Earth due to its similar composition and size. It is also the second-closest planet to the Sun and the brightest one in the solar system.
Due to Venus' toxic and thick atmosphere that mainly consist of CO2, clouds of sulfuric acid, and atmospheric pressure that is roughly 92 times that of Earth's, it is difficult for astronomers to study its surface.
Venus is also the hottest planet, having surface temperatures that average roughly 870 degrees Fahrenheit.
As for the planet's surface, it is still geologically young. Its few impact craters show that volcanic activity has resurfaced it in the past 300 to 500 million years. Such a landscape covers highland areas, plains, and several volcanic features, such as lava domes and shield volcanoes.
However, Venus remains poorly understood. Though there are a few things known about it, the planet appears to be very different when it comes to other aspects.
The planet is also not conducive for exploration, unlike Mars. Its incredibly thick atmosphere also makes it difficult to observe what is happening over its surface.
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Volcanic Activity in Venus
As revealed in the new study, astronomers were able to observe changes in the surface of Venus between 1190 and 1992. Such changes could have been caused by flows of fresh lava.
These were noted in the "Evidence of ongoing volcanic activity on Venus revealed by Magellan radar" study.
The study claims that there could be volcanic activity evidence of the past few decades hidden within the Magellan spacecraft's global radar mapping data. This was from the 1990s.
As part of the study, the researchers compared the radar data from years 1990 to 1992. They then discovered surface changes in the planet across two areas. These were in Niobe Planitia and on Sif Mons' Western Flank and in the Niobe Planitia of the west.
Such changes could mean that volcanic activity took place during this period. Fresh lava flows could have brought about such changes.
The researchers said that they suggest that such changes could reasonably be evidence of new lava flows associated with volcanic activity that happened during the mapping mission of the Magellan spacecraft. The study offers more evidence that supports how Venus is geologically active.
On top of being more volcanically active than thought, Venus' volcanic activity could even have the same magnitude order that is estimated for Earth.
Such findings show the immense geological activity of Venus. Moreover, considering the distance between the two locations, such activity could be prevalent all over the planet.
The researchers also suggest that Venus could be as volcanically active as Earth. They explain that the brightest planet could experience as many as 42 eruptions each year, with roughly 20 of them taking place within a period of 60 days.
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