Venus may not have the same tectonic plates as Earth, but it’s far from geologically quiet. A new model reveals its crust is surprisingly thin and undergoes dramatic transformations, breaking off or melting into the mantle and potentially triggering volcanic eruptions.
This process, known as metamorphism, provides scientists with a new perspective on how Venus churns beneath its surface. Upcoming missions like DAVINCI and VERITAS aim to uncover how alive the planet remains.
Researchers have long believed that Venus’ outer crust simply thickened over time, but a new study suggests otherwise. Instead of accumulating, parts of the crust may break off or melt due to pressure and density changes deep beneath the surface. This process could be key to understanding how Venus stays geologically active.
Unlike Earth’s tectonics, where crust is broken into large moving plates, Venus has a single solid crust with no evidence of subduction. The study found that its crust is approximately 25 miles (40 kilometers) thick on average and can reach up to 40 miles (65 kilometers) in thickness.
As the crust grows thicker, it becomes denser, causing parts of it to break off or melt into the mantle. This process could put water and elements back into the planet’s interior, driving volcanic activity and potentially triggering eruptions.
The discovery sheds new light on Venus’ geological processes and evolution. Upcoming missions will gather direct data about Venus’ crust to test and refine these models, aiming to confirm whether processes like metamorphism are actively shaping the Venusian crust today.
Source: https://scitechdaily.com/nasa-finds-venus-has-a-surprisingly-thin-crust-and-something-stranger