Seismology has been used to study the interiors of planets for decades, but it has been difficult to apply this technique to Venus due to the planet's harsh environment. However, a team of researchers from NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory and Sandia National Laboratory believe that they have found a way to use floating seismometers to study the planet's interior.
The researchers propose using balloons to carry seismometers into the upper atmosphere of Venus, where the temperature and pressure are more Earth-like. The balloons would be equipped with infrasound microphones, which can detect low-frequency sound waves created by earthquakes. These sound waves would then be transmitted to the seismometers, which would record them and provide scientists with information about the planet's interior.
The researchers believe that this technique could be used to study the size, shape, and composition of Venus's core, as well as the planet's seismic activity. This information would be valuable for understanding the evolution of Venus and its relationship to Earth.
The researchers have yet to develop a detailed plan for a mission to Venus using floating seismometers, but they believe that it is a feasible and promising approach to studying the planet's interior.
Challenges and Next Steps
There are still some challenges that need to be addressed before this technique can be used to study Venus. One challenge is that Venus's atmosphere is very dense, which could make it difficult for the balloons to stay afloat. Another challenge is that the infrasound signals from earthquakes on Venus are likely to be very weak, so the seismometers will need to be very sensitive.
The researchers are currently working on addressing these challenges. They are also working on developing a plan for a mission to Venus that would use floating seismometers. If successful, this mission could provide valuable insights into the interior of Venus and its evolution.
Journal Information: Siddharth Krishnamoorthy et al, A "Floatilla" of Airborne Seismometers for Venus, Geophysical Research Letters (2022). DOI: 10.1029/2022GL100978