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Geology and structure of Beta Regio, Venus: Results from Arecibo Radar Imaging
Author(s) -
Senske D. A.,
Head J. W.,
Stofan E. R.,
Campbell D. B.
Publication year - 1991
Publication title -
geophysical research letters
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.007
H-Index - 273
eISSN - 1944-8007
pISSN - 0094-8276
DOI - 10.1029/91gl01001
Subject(s) - geology , mantle plume , crust , plume , venus , mantle (geology) , geophysics , volcano , radar , seismology , tectonics , astrobiology , lithosphere , meteorology , physics , telecommunications , computer science
Arecibo radar images of a portion of the equatorial region of Venus provide the first high resolution (1.5‐ to 2.0‐ km) synoptic coverage of Beta Regio. Within this area, tessera, a complex deformed terrain, is identified as a major geologic unit with the largest region corresponding to a plateau on the east flank of the highland. Three models are proposed to explain the origin and evolution of Beta Regio and are identified as Mantle Plume/Passive Crust, Mantle Plume/Active Crust , and Mantle Plume/Crustal Spreading. The Mantle Plume/Passive Crust model appears to be the most consistent with the geology in this region and suggests that a plume disrupts a preexisting region of tessera.