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A lateral cross-sectional view illustrating the detected cave beneath the surface of Venus. Evidence of volcanic activity on Venus has been confirmed for the first time. (RSLab, University of Trento via SWNS)<\/p>\n
By Talker<\/p>\n
By Stephen Beech<\/p>\n
Evidence of volcanic activity on Venus<\/a> has been confirmed for the first time.<\/p>\n An empty lava tube beneath the planet\u2019s surface has been identified by analyzing radar data collected by NASA\u2019s Magellan mission over 30 years ago.<\/p>\n It was known that volcanic activity is not unique to Earth as traces – such as lava tubes – have previously been found on Mars and the Moon.<\/p>\n Now a study by Italian scientists, published in the journal Nature Communications<\/a>, has demonstrated the existence of an empty lava tube in the depths of Venus.<\/p>\n Research co-ordinator Professor Lorenzo Bruzzone said: “Our knowledge of Venus is still limited, and until now we have never had the opportunity to directly observe processes occurring beneath the surface of Earth\u2019s twin planet.<\/p>\n “The identification of a volcanic cavity is therefore of particular importance, as it allows us to validate theories that for many years have only hypothesized their existence.<\/p>\n NASA<\/p>\n “This discovery contributes to a deeper understanding of the processes that have shaped Venus\u2019s evolution<\/a> and opens new perspectives for the study of the planet.”<\/p>\n He explained that finding lava tubes outside the Earth is not easy as they form underground, and the caves usually remain hidden.<\/p>\n They can only be spotted when part of their roof collapses, creating a pit visible on the planet\u2019s surface.<\/p>\n Bruzzone, of the University of Trento<\/a>, says the collapses may reveal both the presence of a lava tube and a possible entrance to it.<\/p>\n But the search on Venus is even more challenging as the planet is covered by thick clouds that block direct views of the surface with standard cameras, forcing scientists to rely on radar images.<\/p>\n Between 1990 and 1992, a Synthetic Aperture Radar, an instrument aboard NASA’s Magellan spacecraft, mapped the surface of Venus<\/a>.<\/p>\n Magellan radar image of Venus (Magellan’s Radar System – Full Resolution Radar Left-Look Mosaic, framelet ID: fl29n047) displaying several pit chains and the identified skylight, marked as A, potentially providing access to the subsurface (i.e., empty void). The white arrow indicates the radar illumination direction. (Image taken from the paper \u201cL. Carrer, E. Diana, L. Bruzzone, \u201cE via SWNS)<\/p>\n By Talker<\/p>\n Bruzzone said: “We analyzed Magellan’s radar images where there are signs of localized surface collapses using an imaging technique that we have developed to detect and characterize underground conduits near skylights.<\/p>\n “Our analysis revealed the existence of a large subsurface conduit in the region of Nyx Mons, the area named after the Greek goddess of the night.<\/p>\n “We interpret the structure as a possible lava tube, with an estimated diameter of approximately one kilometre, a roof thickness of at least 150 metres and an empty void deep of no less than 375 metres.”<\/p>\n<\/p>\n
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