Conditions on Venus cannot be called suitable for life at a temperature of about 460 degrees and a pressure 90 times higher than atmospheric. years ago, there was a fairly comfortable climate on this planet that was suitable for the existence of life.
The current Venus is an example of what the planet can turn into as a result of global climate change. The air shell of this celestial body has an impressive pressure that is 90 times higher than the earth. The planet’s air contains 97% carbon dioxide (on Earth it is only 0.04%). The surface temperature is so high that it can melt lead. Naturally, in such conditions there is not even the slightest hint of the existence of liquid water and life.
However, there are hypotheses confirming that life can exist in the upper layers of the Venusian atmosphere. Here the atmosphere is less dense, and its temperature is approaching the Earth. However, there is no instrumental evidence that life in the form of microorganisms can exist in this region of Venus.
Current data from astronomical studies indicate that even 0.7 billion years ago on Venus water could exist in liquid form. Moreover, there was an ocean of water.
The model of the past of this planet was recreated by astronomers Michael Wei and Anthony Del Genio, working at the NASA Goddard Space Research Institute.Research data became known at the EPSC-DP conference in Geneva, Switzerland.
The authors of the theory considered a model of the Venusian climate between 4.2 billion and 715 million years ago. In all cases, there was an assumption that the planet was an ocean filled with water. The results of the mathematical model showed that the temperature on Venus could constantly fluctuate from 20 to 50 degrees. It is much warmer than the present Earth, but still favorable for sustaining life.
More than 4 billion years ago, carbohydrate dioxide was chemically bound to silicates. The atmosphere was not so dense, it contained a large amount of nitrogen. For about 3 billion years, life could potentially have developed on this planet.
However, about 715 billion years ago there was a powerful release of carbon dioxide that upset the fragile balance in the Venusian atmosphere. The greenhouse effect began to develop intensively in it. Hence the strong heating of the planet and the incredible compaction of the air shell.
Similar phenomena have also occurred on our planet. One of the outbursts led to the so-called Permian extinction, which happened to about 250 million. The Earth’s atmosphere was able to recover due to the fact that it receives not as much heat from the Sun as Venus. But the second planet could not survive this. Rapid heating has led to the fact that now the surface of Venus is one of the hottest in the solar system.
