Did Venus Once Have Earth-like Plate Tectonics?

While we often refer to Venus as Earth’s “sister” or “twin” due to their similar size, mass, and composition, the two planets don’t share many features otherwise. Venus has scorching surface temperatures of around 464 °C (867 °F), an incredibly high surface pressure, and an atmosphere that is over 96% carbon dioxide. While Earth and its hothead neighbor may have almost nothing in common beyond size, researchers at Brown University have found one feature that their surfaces may have shared long ago. Published in Nature Astronomy, the team’s findings suggest that Venus may have once had active plate tectonics similar to our home planets.

Most recent space probe image of Venus, taken by Parker Solar Probe during a flyby in February of 2022. Some surface features can be seen through the thick clouds. Credit: NASA/APL/NRL.

Plate Tectonics Drive Many Earth Processes

Plate tectonics are an important part of life on Earth. The movement of large plates of crust are responsible for the formation of mountains, volcanoes, and continents, as well as the renewal of crust through the formation of new crust at mid-ocean ridges and the subduction of old crust at convergent plate boundaries. Plate tectonics drive our planet’s rock cycle; the never ending transformation of the Earth through physical and chemical changes to its surface.

Active plate tectonics were also important for the development of life on Earth by creating stable conditions. It turns out that the creation and…