Introduction: One of the major and outstanding problem in Venus geology is: Does Venus possess a non-basaltic crustal component which may be an analog to the continental crust of Earth [e.g. 1]? Detailed photogeologic analysis of plains units that make up the majority of the surface of Venus strongly suggests that the plains were formed by eruptions of low-viscosity lavas [2-4]. Such a morpholo...

We developed and applied a novel numerical scheme for a gravimetric forward modelling of the Earth’s crustal density structures based entirely on methods for a spherical analysis and synthesis of the gravitational field. This numerical scheme utilises expressions for the gravitational potentials and their radial derivatives generated by the homogeneous or laterally varying mass density layers w...

[1] We examine waveforms and data used to construct coda magnitude in southern California to estimate the spatial variation of coda Q and its dependence on frequency. Our analysis combined with independent borehole data suggests that coda is mainly generated by multiple scattering in the upper few kilometers of the crust where large impedance contrasts occur because of surface layering or fract...

Only three processes, operant during the formation of the Solar System, are responsible for the diversity of matter in the Solar System and are directly responsible for planetary internal-structures, including planetocentric nuclear fission reactors, and for dynamical processes, including and especially, geodynamics. These processes are: (i) Low-pressure, low-temperature condensation from solar...

Introduction The development of Earth-observation techniques based on the use of navigation signals can be traced back to the use of GPS in geodetic applications to provide astonishing precision, such as the determination to within a few centimetres of the relative positions of points on the Earth’s surface separated by several thousand kilometres. This ultra-precise positioning of fixed GPS re...

It has long been recognized that mare basalts on the Moon are preferentially located both on the Earth-facing hemisphere and within large impact basins. A popular model that accounts for this observation assumes that these magmas were denser than the lunar crust, that they accumulated at the crust^mantle interface, and that eruptions occurred only when this magma chamber became overpressurized....

Radon is one of many geophysical and geochemical phenomena that can be considered to be an earthquake precursor. Due to the non-linear dependence of earthquakes’ initial conditions, the question about the predictability of earthquakes often arises (Geller, 1997). The successful prediction of earthquakes is yet to be accomplished, in terms of their magnitude, location and time, and much effort h...

Laboratory experiments have established that many earth materials are strongly anisotropic. Observations of azimuthal and radial anisotropy in the upper mantle are attributed to the lattice-preferred orientation (LPO) of olivine caused by the shear strains associated with deformation, and provide some of the most direct evidence for deformation and flow within Earth’s interior. Although observa...

T study of the deep structure and evolution of passive continental margins is important for the understanding of rifting processes and the formation of associated sedimentary basins. Since the classical models of McKenzie (1978) and Wernicke (1985), understanding how passive continental margins form, that is to say mainly the way that continental lithosphere is thinned leading to subsidence, re...

Magnetized rocks can record the history of the magnetic field of a planet, a key constraint for understanding its evolution. From orbital vector magnetic field measurements of Mercury taken by the MErcury Surface, Space ENvironment, GEochemistry, and Ranging (MESSENGER) spacecraft at altitudes below 150 kilometers, we have detected remanent magnetization in Mercury's crust. We infer a lower bou...