Title: A peek inside: What the venusian surface can tell us about its interior

Abstract: Venus is similar to Earth in size and composition but has taken a significantly different evolutionary path. While Earth has water on its surface and is teeming with life, Venus is surrounded by a dense CO2-rich atmosphere resulting in high surface temperatures and pressures. These conditions make Venus exploration extremely difficult and there are still many unanswered questions regarding the geological evolution and habitability potential of the planet. The Venusian surface is dominated by basaltic rocks, which record compositional differences because of various melting depths, source regions, and volatile content. Linking basalt compositions to melting depth and reservoirs is hence crucial to further constrain Venus’ geological evolution and will significantly contribute to the interpretation of data obtained by future Venus missions. In this talk, I will present results from petrological modelling to determine the compositions of partial mantle melts for a range of protolith compositions, thermal gradients, and varying water contents, allowing for a comparison to surface observations and the prediction of potential formation conditions. The presentation will also cover the upcoming Venus missions, which aim to significantly contribute to our understanding of Earth’s twin planet.

Affiliation: MSA tour-School of Environment, Earth & Ecosystem Science, The Open University, UK