Geologists find Mauna Loa lava cooling clues for Venus volcanism

14 articles · Updated · Space.com · Apr 30

Ian Flynn's team found Mauna Loa flows thicker than 20 metres took about 21 months to cool, and machine learning detected underground heat buildup a month before the 2022 Hawaii eruption.
Using combined public and private satellite data, researchers also converted 2D observations into 3D flow-thickness estimates, helping assess eruption stage, lava output and composition on Earth and potentially Venus.
The work supports efforts to judge whether Venus is volcanically active today, after radar and atmospheric evidence suggested recent activity; NASA's planned VERITAS mission could help identify and date fresh lava flows.

Could the new satellite and AI techniques finally let us witness a volcanic eruption happening on Venus in real time?

If Venus is still volcanically active, what does that mean for its potential to support life or reshape our understanding of Earth's future?

With rising budget pressures, could key missions like VERITAS or DAVINCI be delayed, risking a lost decade for Venus exploration?