Scientists have made a groundbreaking discovery regarding the volcanic activity on Venus, suggesting that its volcanic activity rivals that of present-day Earth. By analyzing archival data from NASA's Magellan mission, researchers have identified two volcanic eruptions that occurred on Venus in the early 1990s.

The initial breakthrough came in 2023 when scientists announced their discovery of direct proof of a volcanic eruption on Venus that took place between February and October 1991. This eruption, which had an explosive force, reshaped the crater of the massive Maat Mons volcano located near the planet's equator.

Now, scientists combing through the Magellan data once again have found significant evidence of volcanic activity on Venus. By comparing surface maps from the spacecraft between 1990 and 1992, researchers focused on two areas of Venus' surface for analysis: the region surrounding the Sif Mons volcano in the southern hemisphere and a region known as Niobe Planitia near the equator.

Due to Venus' dense atmosphere, direct observation of its surface is not possible like it is on Earth. Instead, Magellan used radar waves to create detailed maps of the planet's topography by listening to the resulting echoes, or "backscatter." These maps unveiled crucial information about Venus' composition, height, and other characteristics.

Davide Sulcanese of d'Annunzio University in Pescara, Italy, who led the study published in the journal Nature Astronomy, explained, "Using these maps as a guide, our results show that Venus may be far more volcanically active than previously thought. By analyzing the lava flows in two locations on the planet, we have discovered that the volcanic activity on Venus could be comparable to that on Earth."

A comparison of the 1990 and 1992 radar maps indicated the presence of extensive rivers of lava that had flowed across the alien landscape during the two-year period. These lava flows later solidified into deposits up to 66 ft (20 meters) deep in some areas. The researchers estimate that the lava flows covered a total of 19 square miles, creating enough rock to fill 90,000 Olympic swimming pools during the period between 1990 and 1992.

These findings have set the stage for upcoming missions to Venus. NASA's Venus Emissivity Radio Mastrogiuseppe (VERITAS) mission, scheduled to launch in the early 2030s, will explore Venus with advanced instruments to identify surface changes in greater detail than ever before.

Suzanne Smrekar, the principal investigator of the VERITAS mission, expressed enthusiasm, stating, "Our spacecraft will have a suite of approaches for identifying surface changes that are far more comprehensive and higher resolution than Magellan images. Evidence of volcanic activity, even in the lower-resolution Magellan data, supercharges the potential to revolutionize our understanding of this enigmatic world."

The newly transformed landscapes on Venus, shaped by volcanic activity, present an intriguing opportunity for scientists studying the planet's evolution and habitability. As our knowledge of Venus expands, it may provide valuable insights into the geophysical processes occurring on Earth's cosmic neighbor.