Scientists suggest that the secret of the disappearance of water on Venus, the planet closest to the Earth, is considered the “sister of the earth” because of its size and intimacy. However, despite the alleged presence of water in the past, Venus today is a hot and hostile world with a dense atmosphere, the main component of which is carbon dioxide, and clouds of sulfuric acid. Atmospheric pressure on the surface of the planet is 92 times higher than the earth, which corresponds to the pressure at a depth of about 900 meters under water on the ground.
For a long time, the scientist remained a mystery how Venus lost her water. A new study published in the magazine Nature, offers the theory that water could disappear as a result of a chemical reaction, known as a dissociative recombination of HCO+. In this process, HCO+ ions are connected to electrons, forming carbon monoxide and hydrogen atoms, which are then lost in space.
This theory can explain some inconsistencies in the data obtained from the spacecraft exploring Venus and suggests that the loss of water occurred twice as fast as it was predicted by the theory of hydrodynamic flow – a process that describes gases from the atmosphere of the planet. Scientists note that this discovery helps to explain the high pace of drying the planet after the alleged disappearance of the oceans.
Martin Van Kranandonk, a professor of astrobiology and geology from the University of Kertin, comments: “Venus is not the most pleasant place. The probes landing on its surface are melting for minutes due to an average temperature of 867 degrees in Fahrenheit. Life, life, life, life. As we know her, it would literally turn into resin. “
In conclusion, researchers emphasize the need for