Colour plan view of Siloe Patera
Colour plan view of Siloe Patera
This direct overhead view of Siloe Patera shows some of the features of the landscape that a group of scientists from the United States interpret as the result of the eruption of a supervolcano. The morphology of the structure indicates a huge, empty magma chamber beneath the crater into which the crustal ‘lid’ sank, forming a volcanic crater known as a caldera. In addition, there is no central mountain in the centre of the crater or obvious ejecta material. Many other features of the landscape could be explained by it being a conventional impact crater.