European Space Agency's Venus Express spacecraft has detected sulphur dioxide in the atmosphere of Venus. This could be produced by active volcanoes, or created by an unknown mechanism affecting the upper atmosphere. Sulphur dioxide at high altitude should be destroyed rapidly by solar radiation, but it has been varying in concentration. Plans are being made to look for localised increases in sulphur dioxide that would indicate a plume of the gas from a volcano. Another method is to look for hot spots on the surface that can indicate recent volcanic activity.
Volcanoes of Venus...
About John Seach
- John Seach
- John Seach is a scientist and the world's leading volcano adventurer. Over the past 24 years John has traveled to the world's most exciting volcanoes, and witnessed eruptions during trips to more than 200 volcanoes. John's work has been featured on award winning television programmes. John is the founder of "Volcano Live", the world's first volcano news and volcano travel website.