Mead Basin, Venus
The largest crater on the surface of Venus, Mead, appears to have undergone significant lower crustal flow. I simulated the potential relaxation of topography at the surface and subsurface of Mead basin. Modeling the viscoelastic deformation of Mead places constraints on the thermal state of our sister planet in the vicinity of the basin. The background heat flux of Venus estimated here is higher than the average global values predicted by previous thermal models. Moreover, this study showed that Venus’s crust and mantle seem to be dry relative to those of the Earth. This is an indication for the water content of the Venus’s interior (Published in Icarus).
In 2019, a commentary article questioned our methodology, and in a detailed Reply we answered all the raised questions.
In 2019, a commentary article questioned our methodology, and in a detailed Reply we answered all the raised questions.