Geology and structure of Beta Regio, Venus: Results from Arecibo radar imaging

Journal Article · Sat Jun 01 04:00:00 EDT 1991 · Geophysical Research Letters (American Geophysical Union); (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1029/91GL01001· OSTI ID:5316468

Senske, D A; Head, J W ^[1]; Stofan, E R ^[2]; Campbell, D B ^[3]

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1. Brown Univ., Providence, RI (USA)
2. Jet Propulsion Lab., Pasadena, CA (USA)
3. Cornell Univ., Ithaca, NY (USA)

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.

• OSTI ID: 5316468
• Journal Information: Geophysical Research Letters (American Geophysical Union); (United States), Journal Name: Geophysical Research Letters (American Geophysical Union); (United States) Vol. 18:6; ISSN GPRLA; ISSN 0094-8276
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

640107* -- Astrophysics & Cosmology-- Planetary Phenomena
71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS
GENERAL PHYSICS
DATA
DATA ANALYSIS
GEOLOGY
IMAGES
INFORMATION
MATHEMATICAL MODELS
MEASURING INSTRUMENTS
ORIGIN
PLANETARY EVOLUTION
PLANETS
RADAR
RANGE FINDERS
RESOLUTION
SOLAR SYSTEM EVOLUTION
TOPOGRAPHY
VENUS PLANET