Excerpt from the Proceedings of the COMSOL Conference 2009 Boston Coupled Models of Lithospheric Flexure and Magma Chamber Pressurization at Large Volcanoes on Venus Gerald A. Galgana1*, Patrick J. McGovern1, and Eric B. Grosfils2 1Lunar and Planetary Institute, USRA; 2Geology Department, Pomona College *Corresponding author, postal address: 3600 Bay Area Blvd., Houston, TX; email:
[email protected] Abstract: We present an implementation of the Structural Mechanics module of COMSOL 1. Introduction to Venus Volcano Morphology Multiphysics to model the state of stress associated with the emplacement of large volcanic edifices on The topography of the planet Venus is hidden the surface of a planet (in this paper, the planet beneath its thick and opaque atmosphere. Venus). These finite element models capture two Nonetheless, the Magellan spacecraft, equipped essential physical processes: (1) Elastic flexure of with Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR), has imaged the lithosphere (the mechanically strong outer layer the surface of Venus at high resolution to reveal of a planet) beneath the edifice load, and (2) over 150 large volcanic edifices with lava flow Pressurization of a magma-filled chamber that diameters greater than 100 km [1, 2]. Identified on serves as the supply source for the lava flows that the basis of conical to domical topographic highs of build the edifice. We demonstrate that the several km and numerous digitate lava flows that COMSOL model adequately represents the form broad, flat aprons surrounding the edifices, response of an elastic plate to loading by these volcanoes are analogous to (but generally benchmarking against an analytic axisymmetric somewhat broader than) the gently sloped Hawaiian flexure solution.