What new insights about lava tubes on Venus can scientists gain about the planet’s formation, evolution, and present volcanic activity? This is what a recent study published in Nature Communications hopes to address as a team of researchers from Italy revealed a groundbreaking discovery of a lava tube on the planet Venus. This study has the potential to help scientists better understand the present volcanic activity of Venus, along with potentially assisting in sending humans to Venus.
For the study, the researchers analyzed data obtained from NASA’s now-retired Magellan spacecraft, which mapped the surface of Venus from 1990 to 1994 using synthetic aperture radar (SAR), since visible light can’t penetrate Venus’s thick atmosphere. Since Magellan remains the only mission to map Venus’ surface, scientists have relied on its data for the last three decades with the goal of better understanding Venus’ surface features, specifically regarding whether it’s presently volcanically active.
Now, this study reveals a first-time discovery of a lava tube on the surface of Venus, which until now was only hypothesized to exist. The researchers found evidence of surface collapses being a skylight, which have been observed on the Moon and Mars, and are indicative of lava tube entrances. The researchers estimate that the lava tube has a roof thickness of at least 150 meters (492 feet), while extending into the subsurface for at least 300 meters (984 feet).
"The available data allow us to confirm and measure only the portion of the cavity close to the skylight,” said Dr. Lorenzo Bruzzone, who is a professor of telecommunications at the University of Trento and a co-author on the study. “However, analysis of the morphology and elevation of the surrounding terrain, together with the presence of other pits similar with the one studied, supports the hypothesis that the subsurface conduits may extend for at least 45 kilometers. To test this hypothesis and identify additional lava tubes, new higher-resolution images and data acquired by radar systems capable of penetrating the surface will be required.”
What new insights into Venusian lava tubes will researchers make in the coming years and decades? Only time will tell, and this is why we science!
As always, keep doing science & keep looking up!
Sources: Nature Communications, EurekAlert!
Featured Image: Computer rendition of NASA's Magellan spacecraft locating a lava tube. (Credit: RSLab, University of Trento)
