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(MENAFN – NewsBytes) Since NASA's PioneerVenus project hinted in the 1980s that the planet could have an ocean, scientists have a hard time understanding what exactly happened that turned Venus into an inhospitable hell that he is today.
Another question that arises with the discoveries of the pioneer is whether Venus has ever been a habitable planet.
A recent study now hopes to answer this question.
Study
The study was presented by two NASA GISS researchers
At the joint meeting of the European PlanetaryScienceCongress – Global Science Division (EPSC-DPS) 2019, on September 20 in Geneva, Michael J. Way and Anthony D. Del Genio, researchers at the NASAGoddard Institute for Space Science (GISS), presented their study to establish the possibility of habitability of the ancient Venus. .
By the way, Way had also drafted a 2016 Venus climate study to determine if it could have been habitable.
Methodology
Way and Del Genio performed four topographic simulations
Scientists conducted four topographic simulations using a 3D General Circulation Model (GCM).
Two simulations included the current topography of Venus with deep oceans of 310 and 10 m.
A third simulation included the current topography of the Earth with a deep ocean of 310 m and the fourth imagined an oceanic world.
The four simulations were conducted over three different periods: 4.2 billion years ago, 0.715 billion years ago, and today.
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Results
Here's what the study found
The study put forth the following hypothesis: "Venus could have a stable climate for billions of years with a carbonate-silicate cycle similar to that of Earth."
So, why is Venus' current temperature not around 20 to 40 ° C instead of the "CO2 dominated greenhouse" today?
The study explains: "It is possible that the almost global resurfacing we see today, which occurred about 750 million Mya (a million years ago), is responsible for its current climate."
Climate of Venus
Why is Venus so hot in the present?
For the uninitiated, Venus has a surface temperature of 500 ° C and atmospheric pressure 92 times that of the Earth.
The cover of sulfuric acid clouds does not make the planet more viable.
It is believed that a global event of volcanic resurfacing on Venus released trapped carbon dioxide, which triggered an uncontrolled greenhouse effect, while the buildup of greenhouse gases causes thawing of the atmosphere. Water of the planet.
To understand the "global resurfacing", here is what happened on Earth a long time ago
As a reference, the volcanic phenomenon that created the Siberian traps 500 million years ago projected enough lava and molten volcanic ash from the center of the Earth for the event to occur. annihilated 90% of the earth alllifeon. Now, imagine a global event of volcanic resurfacing.
Quote
There is a real possibility that Venus may have been habitable: Way
Way said: "Our models show that it is possible that Venus is habitable and radically different from the Venus we see today."
Way also noted that this broadened scientists' perception of a livable area.
"This opens up all sorts of implications for the exoplanets present in what is called the" Venus Zone ", which may actually contain liquid water and temperate climates."
What then
However, we must still better understand Venus
However, because of Venus' inhospitable climate, there is simply not enough evidence to understand the planet.
Way said, "We need more missions to study Venus and better understand her history and evolution."
Fortunately, a series of Venus missions are aligned, with the launch of India's first Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO) in 2023, followed by US, European and US-Russian missions.
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