Premium
New evidence for global tectonic zones on Venus
Author(s) -
Kozak Richard C.,
Schaber Gerald G.
Publication year - 1989
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/gl016i002p00175
Subject(s) - geology , venus , tectonics , rift , shear zone , terrain , plate tectonics , rift zone , paleontology , geophysics , seismology , earth science , astrobiology , geography , physics , cartography
Venera 15 and 16 spacecraft images show clear evidence of major crustal disruptions on Venus which have been interpreted to indicate crustal divergence. Complementary to the divergent zones are mountain belts that border the continent‐like high terrains. The requisite transcurrent motions appear to be manifested as diffuse shear zones. The rift zones form an interconnected transpolar system which ties in with previously recognized equatorial disruption zones, suggesting a global tectonic network. Several independent lines of evidence suggest that the tectonism may be geologically young.