The authors of a recent PNAS paper describe its significance as follows:
"We have identified a pattern of tectonic deformation on Venus that suggests that many of the planet’s lowlands have fragmented into discrete crustal blocks, and that these blocks have moved relative to each other in the geologically recent past. These motions may be the result of mantle convection and, if so, constitute a style of interior–surface coupling not seen elsewhere in the inner Solar System except for continental interiors on Earth. Venus’ fragmented, mobile lithosphere may offer a framework for understanding how tectonics on Earth operated in the Archean."
A popular account is available in this BBC article.
The paper itself should be accessible here on the PNAS site , but at present the link to the full pdf does not appear to be working though I'm reasonably sure this specific paper is Open Access. You can, however, read the Abstract and full list of references.
"We have identified a pattern of tectonic deformation on Venus that suggests that many of the planet’s lowlands have fragmented into discrete crustal blocks, and that these blocks have moved relative to each other in the geologically recent past. These motions may be the result of mantle convection and, if so, constitute a style of interior–surface coupling not seen elsewhere in the inner Solar System except for continental interiors on Earth. Venus’ fragmented, mobile lithosphere may offer a framework for understanding how tectonics on Earth operated in the Archean."
A popular account is available in this BBC article.
The paper itself should be accessible here on the PNAS site , but at present the link to the full pdf does not appear to be working though I'm reasonably sure this specific paper is Open Access. You can, however, read the Abstract and full list of references.
