Identifying Landslides in Atla Regio on Venus

Abstract

We performed a systematic search for landslides in the Alta Regio region of Venus, located from (16°S, 179°W) to (21°N, 147°W). Using data primarily from Magellan Cycle 1 radar imagery, we identified 29 landslides in this region. There were 19 previously identified across the entire surface (Malin, 1992, https://doi.org/10.1029/92je01343). There were three different categories and two sub-categories used for morphological classification: rock/debris avalanches, with their subcategory of debris flows; rock slumps/slides; and rock slide avalanches, with their subcategory being small rock slides. These landslides are commonly a result of slope failure of the walls of the chasmata in the Atla Regio. We also compared the types of landslides with altitude to determine whether some types of landslides are more common at different atmospheric pressures; however, no clear correlation could be identified. The prevalence of landslides in this area, including many others that could not be conclusively confirmed at Magellan resolutions, suggests that there are many more landslides on Venus than were previously known.