Molecule responsible for robbing Venus of its water may finally have been identified
A new water loss mechanism on Venus explains how the planet lost all its water, turning the planet from a potentially habitable world into the parched hellscape we know today.
Venus, as seen by NASA’s Magellan spacecraft. (Image credit: NASA/JPL)
Scientists have identified a water-loss mechanism on Venus that could explain how the once water-rich world became completely parched.
In the newly identified process, linked to a previously overlooked molecule high in Venus' atmosphere, water escaped Venus at double the rate previously estimated. As faster water loss means less time is needed to boil away the planet's water reservoir, scientists say Venus may have harbored oceans — and potentially habitable conditions — for longer than previously thought before the drying process began.
"This would provide more time for possible life to arise," study co-author Eryn Cangi, a research scientist at the Laboratory for Atmospheric and Space Physics (LASP) in Colorado, wrote in The Conversation. "Our results don't mean oceans or life were definitely present, though — answering that question will require lots more science over many years."
Prior studies suggest that both Venus and Earth likely received similar amounts of water early in their history, mostly from water vapor-spewing volcanoes and icy comets that frequently bombarded the worlds. Estimates suggest Venus once had enough moisture to cover its surface in about 1.8 miles (3 kilometers) of water. However, Venus receives far more sunlight than Earth, and previous research revealed this sunlight likely boiled away the planet's water reservoir by breaking atmospheric water molecules into hydrogen and oxygen atoms. Once free, the lightweight hydrogen escaped into space via a process known as hydrodynamic escape, leaving Venus without one of the two ingredients needed to form water.
The process explains how most of Venus' water evaporated from its atmosphere, likely within the first billion years of the planet's history. However, it doesn't account for the last 330 feet (100 meters) worth of water that was likely left behind once the escape process stopped, soon after most hydrogen atoms exited Venus, the researchers of the new study said.
Prior studies suggest that both Venus and Earth likely received similar amounts of water early in their history, mostly from water vapor-spewing volcanoes and icy comets that frequently bombarded the worlds. Estimates suggest Venus once had enough moisture to cover its surface in about 1.8 miles (3 kilometers) of water. However, Venus receives far more sunlight than Earth, and previous research revealed this sunlight likely boiled away the planet's water reservoir by breaking atmospheric water molecules into hydrogen and oxygen atoms. Once free, the lightweight hydrogen escaped into space via a process known as hydrodynamic escape, leaving Venus without one of the two ingredients needed to form water.
https://www.livescience.com/space/venus/molecule-responsible-for-robbing-venus-of-its-water-may-finally-have-been-identified?utm_term=55C996C6-4393-4B13-9736-9BEC0BC6AFA6&lrh=990ccd8e582dc48a5de81889b47c5d726c369528246fb5cf774b4c820833a528&utm_campaign=368B3745-DDE0-4A69-A2E8-62503D85375D&utm_medium=email&utm_content=47A2BCED-0F21-4553-A4CD-7C873CFF8269&utm_source=SmartBrief
= new reply since forum marked as read
Kick in to the DU tip jar?
This week we're running a special pop-up mini fund drive. From Monday through Friday we're going ad-free for all registered members, and we're asking you to kick in to the DU tip jar to support the site and keep us financially healthy.
As a bonus, making a contribution will allow you to leave kudos for another DU member, and at the end of the week we'll recognize the DUers who you think make this community great.
