The Atmospheres of Venus, Earth, and Mars - Essay Example

?Compare and Contrast the Atmospheres of Venus, Earth, and Mars. How Can Studying Venus and Mars Help Us to Understand the Influence We are Having onOur Own Atmosphere and the Possible Consequences to the Viability of Life on this Planet? Table of Contents Introduction 3 Climatic Conditions of Venus 3 Climatic Conditions of Earth 4 Climatic Conditions of Mars 4 Compare and Contrast of Atmosphere in Venus, Mars and Earth 5 Recommendation and Conclusion 6 Works Cited 7 Introduction This research paper is a prologue to describe the atmospheres of Venus, Earth and Mars along with their similarities and differences in terms of atmosphere. The purpose behind this research is to study the atmospheres of Venus and Mars which create their impacts on Earth’s atmosphere. Several chief scientists joined the interdisciplinary endeavor to find the feasibility of life on these two planets, i.e. Venus and Earth. Hence, this paper prefaces the possible consequences regarding the concept. Climatic Conditions of Venus The second planet from the Sun is the Venus. Its standard detachment from the Sun is 67.6 million miles. At times, it is also called the sister planet of Earth based on the similarity of these two planets in terms of their size. However, the atmospheric conditions of Venus are quite dissimilar to that perceived on Earth. For instance, the approximate temperature of Venus is recorded as 900oF. The atmosphere of Venus fundamentally consists of carbon dioxide (CO2) along with 3.5% nitrogen and 0.5% carbon monoxide, argon, sulfur dioxide and water vapor mixed together which put lot of force in the atmosphere. Due to all these reasons, the temperature of Venus is quite high than other planets. The planet also witnesses frequent and strong lightning rainstorms. Notably, the clouds belonging to Venus are mainly made up of sulfuric acid, which can blaze gap through skin, wood and clothes (American Institute of Physics, “Venus & Mars”). Climatic Conditions of Earth The third planet from the Sun is Earth. Approximately, 4.54 billion years before the Earth was formed through accumulations of solar nebula. This globe is residence to millions of genus, together with humans. Approximately 78% of nitrogen, 0.04% carbon dioxide, 21% oxygen, 0.9% argon with erratic little amounts of water vapor and toxins, such as carbon monoxide and sulfur dioxide, makes the atmosphere of Earth. The climate of Earth is determined by temperature and moisture which apparently differ from one geographic region to the other. These variations can crop up due to the sun angle, i.e. the angle at which sunlight strikes the Earth at any exact point. This shows a discrepancy by latitude from the tropics (Johnson, “Goldilocks and the Three Planets”). Climatic Conditions of Mars The planet which is the second closest to the Earth after Venus is Mars. This planet is mostly compiled of carbon dioxide. At the equator, the surface temperature per annum is recorded to be approximately 50o C and at the poles it is near about 130o C which shows that the weather of Mars is quite cold. In Mars, summer temperature climbs above 0o C at center despite the low diurnal mean. Mars also experiences discrete seasonal weather patterns, such as Earth for the reason that rotational axis is tending to the ecliptic, for example annual dust storm (American Institute of Physics, “Venus & Mars”). Compare and Contrast of Atmosphere in Venus, Mars and Earth Mars, Venus and Earth are sibling planets. They all comprise worn surface, enormous volcanoes, chemically and thermally urbanized interiors and atmospheres. The environments of all three planets have clouds and move in reaction to the thermal forcing by the sun. In the same way, through the effects of surface friction and planetary spin, these planets further tend to transform (Prinn & Fregley, “The Atmospheres of Venus, Earth, and Mars: A Critical Comparison”) Apart from these familiar features, these three planets demonstrate extraordinary distinct evidences, in their volatile surface. Venus is a planet which is too warm for forming liquid water as it is nearest to the Sun. In Venus, the CO2 is not at all able to settle out due to insufficient amount of liquid water. Therefore, the greenhouse effects are observed in Venus (Lacey, “R&D: 10-19”). Whereas, Earth is considered as the planet which is be able to form liquid water as it is far away from the sun. Here, the CO2 easily gets dissolved into the ocean and also gets detached from the environment through life processes. With the help of CO2 and H2O a thin layer is created in Earth which keeps the environment warm and mostly liquid (Lacey, “R&D: 10-19”). Similarly, Mars is the planet which is farthest from the Sun compared to Earth and Venus. Hence, it is assumed that the planet had liquid water only in its evolution which might have turn cold and vanished. Mars is moderately less enormous than Venus and Earth which shows that the CO2 was able to dissolve into the water during its evolution (Lacey, “R&D: 10-19”). Recommendation and Conclusion With reference to the above discussion, it can be stated that Earth is likely to get affected by the atmospheric conditions of both Venus and Mars. Recently, it was observed that due to the infrared radiation released by Mars, harmful effects are caused on Earth. The atmosphere of Venus is also covered with excess greenhouse gases which affects the Earth’s climate (Johnson, “Goldilocks and the Three Planets”). These observations show that the atmosphere of Venus and Mars is not appropriate for species, including human being. Venus is too near to the sun to preserve water, which splits its carbon cycle. This planet also leads to creation of excess greenhouse gases. Whereas, Mars is recognized as very small for carrying hot interior which causes to very minimum amount of volcanoes to propel greenhouse gases into its atmosphere. All these factors result in very cold weather in Mars. However, the atmosphere of Earth is consisted with water, volcanoes and the regular climate which make the atmospheric conditions appropriate to live (Johnson, “Goldilocks and the Three Planets”). Works Cited American Institute of Physics. “Venus & Mars”. February 07, 2012. The Discovery of Global Warming, 2011. Johnson, Calvin W. “Goldilocks and the Three Planets”. February 07, 2012. LSU Department of Physics & Astronomy, 1998. Lacey, Christina. “R&D: 10-19”. February 07, 2012. College of Arts and Sciences Physics and Astronomy, 2005. Prinn, R. G. & Fregley, B. “The Atmospheres of Venus, Earth, and Mars: A Critical Comparison.” Annual Review of Earth and Planetary Sciences 15 (1987): 171-212. Read More