July 22, 2020

3D rendition of coronae on Venus (Image courtesy Laurent Montési / University of Maryland)

An article published in the journal “Nature Geoscience” reports the identification of 37 volcanoes that were active recently on the planet Venus. A team of researchers used models of thermo-mechanical activity under the surface of Venus to create 3D simulations of the formation of ring structures known as coronae that form when plumes of hot materials within the planet rise through the layers of the mantle and crust. This study offers what the authors claim is the best evidence ever found that Venus is still a geologically active planet.