Venus’ surprisingly thin crust is more active than Earth’s, NASA reveals

This artist’s concept of the large Quetzalpetlatl Corona located in Venus’ southern hemisphere depicts active volcanism and a subduction zone, where the foreground crust plunges into the planet’s interior. A new study suggests coronae are the locations of several types of tectonic activity. (Image: NASA)

Venus, often seen as Earth's fiery twin, might still be evolving deep below its surface. A fresh look at decades-old NASA data hints that Venus is not as quiet as once thought. Scientists now suggest that the planet may have active tectonic processes.

Coronae Show Signs of Tectonic Activity

The study focused on large, circular features called coronae. These lie across Venus’ surface and range from tens to hundreds of miles wide. Researchers say they form when hot material rises from the planet’s mantle and pushes up against the crust.

Data for the study came from NASA’s Magellan mission, which orbited Venus in the 1990s. Though decades old, its radar provided detailed topographic and gravity maps of the planet. Using these maps, researchers found that 52 out of 75 coronae show signs of motion below the surface.

New research suggests vast surface features on Venus called coronae continue to be shaped by tectonic processes. Observations of these features from NASA’s Magellan mission include, clockwise from top left, Artemis Corona, Quetzalpetlatl Corona, Bahet Corona, and Fotla Corona. (Image: NASA)

The findings suggest that plumes of molten material are pushing up, deforming the planet’s outer shell. This may be a version of tectonics unique to Venus. While the planet lacks tectonic plates like Earth, it still seems to be reshaping itself from within.

Possible Into Early Earth

Lead author Gael Cascioli, a NASA and University of Maryland scientist, said coronae may mirror early Earth features. He explained that they offer clues to how planets evolve before tectonic plates form.

Venus’ coronae lie in areas where the lithosphere is thin and heat flow is high. These areas may be hotspots for plume activity. The team used complex 3D models to test how these structures form and match them with gravity data. That data was key to spotting the rising plumes beneath the surface.

Some coronae may show signs of subduction, a process known on Earth. Here, surface rock moves downward and melts in the mantle. Venus might be doing this in reverse, where hot rock pushes up and spreads outward.

These illustrations depict various types of tectonic activity thought to persist beneath Venus’ coronae. Lithospheric dripping and subduction are shown at top; below are and two scenarios where hot plume material rises and pushes against the lithosphere, potentially driving volcanism above it. (Image: Anna Gülcher, CC BY-NC, NASA)

Other coronae may be shaped by lithospheric dripping. This happens when cooler, heavier rock sinks into hotter layers below. In a few cases, thick surface crust may sit above molten rock. That could drive volcanic activity above it.

VERITAS Mission Aims to Reveal More

The researchers hope NASA’s future VERITAS mission will provide sharper images. Scheduled to launch no earlier than 2031, VERITAS will carry high-resolution instruments. It will map the planet’s gravity, topography and surface composition.

Study coauthor Suzanne Smrekar, principal investigator for VERITAS, said better maps will double or quadruple the detail. That clarity could help scientists see exactly how Venus changes over time.

The Magellan data already showed signs of volcanoes like Maat Mons and Sif Mons erupting. Now, scientists believe tectonic activity may be more widespread than thought. By studying Venus, they hope to better understand Earth’s ancient past.