A new study published May 14, 2025, in Science Advances has found evidence of ongoing tectonic activity on Venus. Researchers used archival data from NASA’s Magellan mission to analyze huge semicircular features called coronae on the planet’s surface.
Coronae are thought to be formed by hot material pushing up to the surface from beneath the mantle. Scientists have identified hundreds of them on Venus, but none on Earth. The study found that 52 out of 75 coronae analyzed had hot, buoyant material beneath them, suggesting subduction or other tectonic processes.
The researchers used complex 3D geodynamic models and combined gravity and topography data from Magellan to support their findings. They also proposed two additional mechanisms: lithospheric dripping and plume-induced volcanism.
This study provides new insights into Venus’ geological activity, which is more Earth-like than previously thought. The results have implications for our understanding of the planet’s interior and the possibility of past or present tectonic processes.
NASA plans to launch a new orbiter mission, VERITAS, in 2031 to further study Venus’ surface and subsurface with higher-resolution gravity maps and advanced instruments. The findings are expected to revolutionize our understanding of Venus’ geology and early Earth’s history.
Source: https://earthsky.org/space/tectonics-on-venus-coronae-magellan-geology