Volcanoes are actively erupting on Venus, according to 30-year-old data

Italian scientists analyzed data collected by the American interplanetary station Magellan and established that during its operation from 1990 to 1992, at least two volcanic eruptions occurred on Venus.

Last year, American researchers examined images of the same regions of Venus taken by Magellan at different times and discovered that a volcanic eruption had occurred on Mount Maat, located near the equator. The eruption was indicated by changes caused by molten rock flowing from the planet's interior.

Their Italian colleagues from the Gabriele d'Annunzio and Sapienza universities conducted a similar study—they examined Mount Sif in the Eistla region and the western part of Niobe Planitia on Venus.

Analyzing the radar data from Magellan in 1990 and 1992, the scientists found that the signal strength received during later orbits on certain trajectories had increased. They linked these changes to the formation of new rock—most likely solidified lava that appeared due to volcanic activity over the two-year period. However, this could also be related to the formation of microdunes—wind-blown sand—and atmospheric phenomena that could interfere with the radar signal.

To confirm their hypothesis, the scientists used volcanic activity on Earth as a reference. This helped them understand that about 30 km² of rock had formed on Mount Sif, which would be enough to fill 36,000 Olympic swimming pools. The eruption on Niobe Planitia resulted in about 45 km² of rock, which would fill 54,000 pools. For comparison, during the eruption of Mauna Loa in Hawaii in 2022, the largest active volcano on Earth, a lava flow was produced that could fill 100,000 Olympic pools.