Venus Active Subsurface Geology and Rift Valleys

Published on July 30, 2026, new research led by ETH Zurich geodynamicist Taras Gerya reveals that Venus remains geologically active beneath its scorching surface, with giant rift valleys currently forming or recently active. Researchers Xi Yang and Anna Gülcher developed high-resolution three-dimensional computer simulations published in Nature Geoscience to analyze how Venusian crust responds when pulled apart. The authors emphasize that Venus is not a geologically dead world as previously assumed. By studying rift flanks, which are broad ridges created when material beneath stretching crust pushes upward, the team discovered a geological clock allowing comparison with radar maps gathered by NASA's Magellan spacecraft in the early 1990s. The essence of the study demonstrates that Venusian rifts in regions like Ganis Chasma, Dali Chasma, and Devana Chasma share structural traits with young, active formations. These rifts may be spreading at rates of 3 to 10 centimeters per year, driven by rising internal heat rather than Earth-style plate tectonics. These findings provide critical targets for upcoming missions such as NASA's VERITAS and DAVINCI probes, as well as ESA's EnVision orbiter planned for launch in November 2031, which will further investigate the planet's interior structure and ongoing surface deformation.