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Study Reveals That Structures Called Coronas Indicate Active Tectonic Processes on Venus, Even Without Plates Like on Earth.
Venus continues to surprise the scientific community. Researchers have found clear signs that the planet is still geologically active, even without tectonic plates like those on Earth.
The discovery is based on the study of the so-called coronas, unique geological structures of our neighboring planet.
What Are The Coronas Of Venus
Coronas are oval formations that range from tens to hundreds of kilometers in diameter.
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They appear surrounded by concentric fractures, as if something were pushing the surface from the inside out.
According to scientists, these structures form when columns of hot, less dense material rise from the mantle, pushing the lithosphere — the planet’s outer layer.
Venus has hundreds of these formations scattered across its surface. However, their exact origin has always been a matter of debate.
There are no records of coronas on present-day Earth, but experts believe they may have existed on our planet during very ancient geological periods.
New Analyses With Old Data From The Magellan Mission
The most recent evidence emerged after scientists revisited data collected by the Magellan mission, launched by NASA in 1989.
The spacecraft used radar to penetrate Venus’ dense atmosphere and map the surface, revealing mountains, plains, and, of course, the mysterious coronas.
The study led by Dr. Gael Cascioli from the University of Maryland and NASA’s Goddard Center combined gravity and topography data to analyze the structure of the coronas more precisely.
This approach allowed for the detection of areas where there are plumes — columns of hot, buoyant material — beneath the planet’s crust.
According to Dr. Cascioli, this type of analysis provides “a new and important insight into the possible underground processes that currently shape the surface of Venus.”
Tectonic Activity Without Tectonic Plates
The study analyzed 75 coronas on Venus. In 52 of them, researchers found signs of hot material beneath the surface, indicating ongoing internal activity.
These signs point to three possible tectonic processes. The first is a form of subduction, similar to that occurring on Earth, but with a different dynamics.
On Venus, the plume of hot material rises and pushes the crust up and sideways. This movement causes the surrounding crust to be pushed down, returning to the mantle.
Another process is called lithospheric dripping. In this case, the denser and colder material of the crust sinks towards the hot mantle, causing surface deformations.
There is also a third type of activity: columns of molten rock that rise beneath thicker areas of the crust.
These columns can trigger volcanism on the surface, as has been observed on other planets and moons in the solar system.
3D Models Support The Conclusions
To confirm their hypotheses, scientists created three-dimensional geodynamic models.
These models simulate how the plumes may form the coronas and help to understand the different tectonic behaviors of Venus.
According to Dr. Anna Gülcher from the University of Bern, this data reinforces that “there are likely several active and ongoing processes driving their formation.” She also highlights that the coronas are unique structures, abundant on the planet, and that their existence may shed light on the early stages of the Earth itself.
Among the 75 analyzed structures, the strongest signs of activity were found in regions where Venus’ crust is thinner and the heat flow is higher.
The combination of these conditions appears to be the key point for the emergence and maintenance of the coronas, making them one of the best indicators of Venus’s internal dynamics today.
The article published in the journal Science Advances.
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