New research has confirmed the existence of enormous subsurface tunnels on Venus formed by lava flows. These so-called lava tubes were found to be unusually wide and significantly different from similar structures on Earth, the Moon, and Mars, New Scientist reports.
A team of scientists from the University of Padua in Italy, led by Barbara De Toffoli, found direct evidence for lava tubes using radar data analysis and mapping. The researchers studied chains of pits on Venus’s surface and established their connection to volcanic slopes, indicating past lava movement.
According to the scientists, the size of the Venusian tunnels is comparable to the largest lunar tubes, which contradicts the usual trend: the weaker a planet’s gravity, the larger the tunnels that are preserved. Thus, lava tubes are smallest on Earth, larger on Mars, and most massive on the Moon. However, Venus, despite having Earth-like gravity, shows surprisingly large structures of this kind.
The researchers hypothesize that the unusual width of the tubes is related to the planet’s extreme conditions: high temperature and pressure. These factors likely affect the movement and solidification of the molten rock, making the tubes more resistant to collapse.
The discovery not only changes our understanding of Venus’s geology but may also help future efforts to understand the volcanic activity of terrestrial planets.
