Evidence of active volcanic activity has been confirmed for the first time on the Earth-like ‘twin planet’ Venus.
A research team at the University of Alaska’s Geophysical Laboratory in Fairbanks, USA, analyzed radar image data from the past 30 years ago on the 15th and announced evidence that volcanic activity on Venus has occurred recently.
Radar data obtained by NASA’s ‘Magellan’ was used. Magellan entered Venus orbit in August 1990 and remained on the mission until 1994.
The research team confirmed that the ‘fire path’, where magma and volcanic ejecta flow to the surface of the ‘Martmons’ volcano in the ‘Atla Regio’ in the highlands near the equator of Venus, changes. Mart Mons has been estimated to have been volcanic activity until recently, but there was no way to find direct evidence.
The research team compared the two data with an 8-month time difference in 1991, and confirmed that the size of the volcano doubled and even formed a lava lake around 8 months later.
This is a very important discovery. Definite evidence of volcanic activity on Venus has been difficult. Venus’ surface temperature is very high, reaching about 500 ° C, and violent storms rage everywhere. The probe lands on the surface and cannot survive for long. In addition, it is obscured by thick clouds, so it is not easy to observe from a distance with an orbiter.
This discovery, made in this situation, is considered a great achievement in understanding Venus, which is ‘near but cryptic’. Venus is the second planet in the solar system and is a ‘neighbor’ to the third, Earth. It is also closer to Earth than its neighbor, Mars, and appears the brightest besides the Sun and the Moon. It is so bright that it can be seen in the night sky with the naked eye.
Venus has a lot of similarities to our Earth. It is about 0.95 times the diameter of the Earth and about 0.85 times the mass, making it worthy of being called our Earth’s twin. The material that makes up the crust is similar to that of Earth, and topographically, there are large mountain ranges and faults. It has all evaporated and disappeared now, but it is believed that water also existed at one time.
It is also a fairly beautified planet to the extent that it has the name ‘Venus’, the goddess of beauty, probably because it is bright and friendly to us. Until it was confirmed that it was a ‘hell star’ with a surface temperature close to 500℃, some people thought ‘wouldn’t we have a suitable environment to live in?’
In a more benign environment, the attention now focused on Mars could have turned to Venus. It is said that there were scholars who were interested in terraforming Venus.
Migration is difficult, but getting to know Venus is still important. Because the similarity is great, it is a great help in understanding the earth. There are many scholars who believe that by exploring Venus, they will be able to predict the future as well as the Earth’s past.
Part of this is interest in volcanic activity. It may help to understand why Venus, which is so similar to Earth and its twin, now looks so different.
The study of volcanic activity on Venus is expected to continue. In the future, a new orbital probe is planned to head into space with a higher-performance radar.
Reporter Youngjun Kim [email protected]