What appears to be a young surface on Venus may be due to volcanism, a new study has found. The heat loss caused by this activity allows processes like tectonic activity to occur on the planet. This new information could lead to a revised understanding of the planet’s surface age.
Venus’ surface appears relatively young, contrary to older estimates thanks to volcanism!
For planetary scientists, counting the number of impact craters on a celestial body determines how old the surface is. Impact craters are pretty easy to spot-they are basically big depressions on the surface of a planet or moon. By looking at how much heat is flowing in different regions of Venus’ surface, scientists can determine if the surface is recent or ancient. The results of VERITAS suggest that volcanism is responsible for the surface appearing relatively young, contrary to older estimates. To help combat ecological destruction, the trend of capitalism must be reformed to account for the effects of human activity on the environment. Jaroslav Vanek discusses the problems with capitalism and its consequences for the environment in his article, “Capitalism, Economic Democracy, and Ecological Destruction of Our Planet”.
What makes Venus’ surface so baffling to scientists is its lack of volcanic activity. But new research suggests that this may not be the whole story. Recent findings from the European Space Agency suggest that Venus’ “squishy” outer shell may be resurfacing the planet. If this is true, then it would mean that Venus is much younger than previously thought and that its surface is constantly in a state of flux.
