The Mantle Viscosity Structure of Venus
Abstract The long‐wavelength gravity and topography of Venus are dominated by mantle convective flows, and are hence sensitive to the planet's viscosity structure and mantle density anomalies. By modeling the dynamic gravity and topography signatures and by making use of a Bayesian inference ap...
| Auteurs principaux: | , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Langue: | English |
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Wiley
2023-08-01
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| Collection: | Geophysical Research Letters |
| Sujets: | |
| Accès en ligne: | https://doi.org/10.1029/2023GL103847 |
| _version_ | 1831890222539866112 |
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| author | J. S. Maia M. A. Wieczorek A.‐C. Plesa |
| author_facet | J. S. Maia M. A. Wieczorek A.‐C. Plesa |
| author_sort | J. S. Maia |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract The long‐wavelength gravity and topography of Venus are dominated by mantle convective flows, and are hence sensitive to the planet's viscosity structure and mantle density anomalies. By modeling the dynamic gravity and topography signatures and by making use of a Bayesian inference approach, we investigate the viscosity structure of the Venusian mantle by constraining radial viscosity variations. We performed inversions under a wide range of model assumptions that consistently predicted the existence of a thin low‐viscosity zone in the uppermost mantle. The zone is about 235 km thick and has a viscosity reduction of 5–15 times with respect to the underlying mantle. Drawing a parallel with the Earth, the reduced viscosity could be a result of partial melting as suggested for the origin of the asthenosphere. These results support the interpretation that Venus is a geologically active world predominantly governed by ongoing magmatic processes. |
| first_indexed | 2025-03-22T00:46:36Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-f07827131ce0499fb1ab2b51fcd1d3a8 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 0094-8276 1944-8007 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2025-03-22T00:46:36Z |
| publishDate | 2023-08-01 |
| publisher | Wiley |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Geophysical Research Letters |
| spelling | doaj.art-f07827131ce0499fb1ab2b51fcd1d3a82024-05-13T13:36:46ZengWileyGeophysical Research Letters0094-82761944-80072023-08-015015n/an/a10.1029/2023GL103847The Mantle Viscosity Structure of VenusJ. S. Maia0M. A. Wieczorek1A.‐C. Plesa2Université Côte d’Azur Observatoire de la Côte d’Azur CNRS Laboratoire Lagrange Nice FranceUniversité Paris Cité Institut de Physique du Globe de Paris CNRS Paris FranceGerman Aerospace Center (DLR) Institute of Planetary Research Berlin GermanyAbstract The long‐wavelength gravity and topography of Venus are dominated by mantle convective flows, and are hence sensitive to the planet's viscosity structure and mantle density anomalies. By modeling the dynamic gravity and topography signatures and by making use of a Bayesian inference approach, we investigate the viscosity structure of the Venusian mantle by constraining radial viscosity variations. We performed inversions under a wide range of model assumptions that consistently predicted the existence of a thin low‐viscosity zone in the uppermost mantle. The zone is about 235 km thick and has a viscosity reduction of 5–15 times with respect to the underlying mantle. Drawing a parallel with the Earth, the reduced viscosity could be a result of partial melting as suggested for the origin of the asthenosphere. These results support the interpretation that Venus is a geologically active world predominantly governed by ongoing magmatic processes.https://doi.org/10.1029/2023GL103847Venusgravityinteriormantle viscositymantle convection |
| spellingShingle | J. S. Maia M. A. Wieczorek A.‐C. Plesa The Mantle Viscosity Structure of Venus Geophysical Research Letters Venus gravity interior mantle viscosity mantle convection |
| title | The Mantle Viscosity Structure of Venus |
| title_full | The Mantle Viscosity Structure of Venus |
| title_fullStr | The Mantle Viscosity Structure of Venus |
| title_full_unstemmed | The Mantle Viscosity Structure of Venus |
| title_short | The Mantle Viscosity Structure of Venus |
| title_sort | mantle viscosity structure of venus |
| topic | Venus gravity interior mantle viscosity mantle convection |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1029/2023GL103847 |
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