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Less than a month ago , scientist were shy if Venus had active volcanoes . Now , a new map uncover that there could be at least 85,000 of them covering the surface of the diabolical planet .
Until recently , experts believed thatVenuswas probably a geologically deadened satellite that was incapable of volcanic eruptions . In the past , scientist identified thousands of volcano on Venus , as well as coronas — drop volcano - like features deal in solidify lava . The planethas a gooey flow mantle beneath its outer impertinence , and its atmosphere is rich with carbon copy dioxide and sulfur , indicating that the planet had a volcanic past . However , Venus no longer has any tectonic plate , which play a key role in volcanic activity and major eruption on Earth . For that grounds , scientists deem it unlikely that any of the Venusian volcanos were currently or had recently been active .
An artist’s interpretation of volcanic activity at a volcano-like structure, known as a corona, on Venus.
But on March 15 , researchers published a reanalysis of data collected duringNASA ’s Magellan charge that revolve a probe around Venus between 1989 and 1994 . The information revealed thefirst evidence of recent volcanic activity on Venus , after the research worker spotted traces of a volcanic eruption that occurred in 1991 . Prior to this , on Feb. 23 , another chemical group of researchers using the Magellan datum showed that the planet ’s stunned crustwas much thin and more " spongy " than previously understand , which suggest magma could still make it onto the satellite ’s Earth’s surface through coronas .
In a new study published March 24 in theJournal of Geophysical Research : Planets , research worker , inspired by the late breakthrough on Venus , create a unexampled map of the major planet ’s surface foreground every potential volcano . To do this , they used a computing machine program to look at Magellan ’s data for signs of volcanoes . They spy at least 85,000 volcanoes , although the team does n’t know if they are active , inactive or geologically drained . ( For context , there are1,350 potentially active volcano on Earth , although this does not include volcanically dead retinal cone , and more unexplored volcano likely lurk beneath Earth ’s ocean . )
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The researcher’s new map of Venus' volcanoes. (The green triangles represent volcanoes less than 3.1 miles wide. The pink triangles represent volcanoes less than 3.1 miles wide. The orange triangles represent volcanoes over 62.1 miles (100 km). Dark circles represent deformed volcanoes and yellow lines outline volcanic fields.)
The young map is " the most comprehensive map of all volcanic edifice on Venus ever roll up , " report co - authorPaul Byrne , a planetary scientist at Washington University in St. Louis , said in astatement .
Around 99 % of the volcanoes on the single-valued function are quite small — less than 3.1 stat mi ( 5 kilometers ) wide . This do them tough to differentiate from their milieu , which is why so many had gone unnoticed until now , researchers wrote in the paper . Many of these little vent are clumped into group , send for volcanic fields , but it is unclear why this has happened .
The researchers believe there could be more , even small volcano less than 0.6 mile ( 1 km ) across that do not show up on their mapping . The reliable phone number of cones on the Venusian Earth’s surface could be in the hundred of 1000 , subject area lead authorRebecca Hahn , a doctorial student at Washington University in St. Louis , said in the assertion .
A computer-generated 3D model of Venus’ surface showing the summit of Maat Mons, the volcano that was recently found to have erupted in 1991.
Future missions to Venus , including NASA’sVERITAS mission , which is scheduled to set up in December 2027 , and theEuropean Space Agency’sEnVision mission , which is scheduled to launch in the other 2030s , will offer novel high - resolution images that could help find these possible hidden mini - volcano , she added .
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The researcher trust their new mapping t can be used by other investigator to predict future eruption and to learn more about the planet ’s volcanic past and present .
" We ’ve already heard from colleagues that they ’ve downloaded the data and are set off to analyze it , which is exactly what we need , " Byrne said . " I ’m excited to see what they can figure out with the new database . "
