These Cloud Waves Over Venus Are Caused By Its Unseen Mountains

How do we know that there are mountains on Venus? It is completely blanketed by high-level clouds and, at visible wavelengths, we cannot see its surface at all. Here is indirect proof for their existence.

Venus Express, European Space Agency's interplanetary spacecraft made this set of images, published by ESA today. They show interesting looking regions of the Venerean clouds: they look like series of sea waves.

How do scientists explain these strange atmospheric wrinkles?







These Cloud Waves Over Venus Are Caused By Its Unseen Mountains

Photo: ESA/Venus Express/VMC/A. Piccialli et al., 2014

Read more about the gravity waves and the geographical features of Venus over at ESA's site.