Scientists have possibly detected underground tunnels on Venus created by ancient volcanic activity. A team from the University of Trento found what looks like a lava tube beneath the planet’s surface. This new discovery, shared in a recent study in Nature, could support longstanding theories about the planet’s volcanism and its impact on Venus’s landscape.
Lorenzo Bruzzone, a professor at the University of Trento and a study co-author, remarked, “Until now, we had limited insight into what lies beneath the surface of Earth’s twin.” He added that finding this volcanic cavity helps validate theories that have been speculative for years.
The researchers examined radio data from the Magellan mission, which mapped Venus’s surface between 1990 and 1992. This spacecraft used synthetic aperture radar to see through the planet’s thick clouds. By analyzing radar images, the team identified what seems to be an empty lava tube near the Nux Mons volcano. This tube is about 0.6 miles wide (1 kilometer), surpassing the sizes of lava tubes on Earth and Mars. Its roof is approximately 490 feet (150 meters) thick, and the cavity is at least 0.25 miles (375 meters) high.
Lava tubes form when flowing lava creates a tunnel beneath a hardened surface. Venus is known to be the most volcanically active planet in our solar system. Scientists have theorized for years about a vast underground network of these tubes, although the dense atmosphere has made them hard to detect.
The discovery of this first lava tube hints at the possibility of more tunnels hidden beneath Venus’s rocky exterior. Bruzzone noted, “This contributes to our understanding of how Venus evolved and opens new avenues for research.”
Future missions, like NASA’s VERITAS and the European Space Agency’s EnVision, scheduled to launch in 2031, might provide high-resolution images that could reveal more details about these underground features. Understanding Venus’s volcanism not only sheds light on the planet itself but also offers insights into planetary processes that could be applied to other celestial bodies.
As we explore this mysterious neighbor further, we may uncover the secrets of its volcanic past and how it has shaped the surface we see today. The potential for new discoveries adds an exciting chapter to our understanding of Venus and its geological history.
Source link
Solar System,venus,Volcanoes
