Comparing the formation of the atmospheres on Earth vs Venus

  • #1
stuartmacg
28
6
TL;DR Summary
Could earth have had a Venus-sized atmosphere, lost by spin-moon effects
Read Venus stats for first time yesterday. Could the spin rate at accretion time reduce Earth's atmosphere relative to Venus, or are there moon tidal effects, e.g. mixing and carrying heat to upper atmosphere allowing escape velocity losses, to explain the 100 fold difference?

I have heard that Venus may have had an Earth-like climate initially?? The grey body temperature at Venus orbit is 45 degrees above earth's, and that ~100 fold gas pressure seems unlikely to have started from nothing, so I would expect some greenhouse effect - sounds a bit hot for life - and where did all the water go?
Did the lower H2O weight allow differential evaporation??
 
Astronomy news on Phys.org
  • #2
What research have you done? Are you familiar with the effects that solar wind had on the atmosphere of Venus?

And, by the way,
stuartmacg said:
I have heard that ...
Is not an acceptable citation here on PF. If you want to discuss something, it has to be based on a concrete statement from an acceptable source.
 
  • Like
Likes berkeman

FAQ: Comparing the formation of the atmospheres on Earth vs Venus

How did the atmospheres of Earth and Venus originally form?

Both Earth and Venus likely formed their atmospheres through a process called outgassing, where volatile substances trapped in the planet's interior were released through volcanic activity. This released gases such as water vapor, carbon dioxide, nitrogen, and other trace gases, forming the early atmospheres of both planets.

Why is Venus's atmosphere so much thicker and hotter than Earth's?

Venus's atmosphere is thicker and hotter primarily due to a runaway greenhouse effect. Venus has a dense atmosphere composed mostly of carbon dioxide, which traps heat very effectively. Additionally, Venus lacks a significant magnetic field, which means solar wind has stripped away lighter elements like hydrogen, preventing the formation of water and leading to an even drier and hotter environment.

What role did water play in the development of Earth's atmosphere compared to Venus's?

Water played a crucial role in Earth's atmospheric development by helping to moderate temperatures and allowing for the formation of oceans. These oceans absorbed much of the carbon dioxide, reducing the greenhouse effect and stabilizing the climate. On Venus, any water that might have been present likely evaporated due to high temperatures, and the lack of water vapor led to a drier atmosphere that couldn't moderate the greenhouse effect.

How do volcanic activities on Earth and Venus differ in their impact on the atmospheres?

Volcanic activity on both planets releases gases into the atmosphere, but Earth's active plate tectonics and water cycle help recycle these gases, maintaining a balanced atmosphere. On Venus, the lack of plate tectonics means that volcanic gases, especially carbon dioxide, accumulate in the atmosphere, contributing to its extreme density and high temperatures.

Why does Earth have a significant amount of oxygen in its atmosphere while Venus does not?

Earth's significant amount of oxygen is primarily due to the presence of photosynthetic life, which has been producing oxygen for billions of years. Venus, on the other hand, does not have such life forms and its extreme surface conditions make it inhospitable to the kind of life that could produce oxygen. Additionally, Venus's thick carbon dioxide atmosphere prevents the development of an oxygen-rich environment.

Similar threads

Back
Top