Which of the following best explains why Mars' and Venus' surface temperatures vary, despite both planets having atmospheres that contain mostly carbon dioxide?(1 point)
Responses
Venus has a surface of high mountains which absorb heat.
Venus has a surface of high mountains which absorb heat.
Mars has a surface of red rocks and sand which reflect heat.
Mars has a surface of red rocks and sand which reflect heat.
Venus has a thick atmosphere which blocks heat from the surface.
Venus has a thick atmosphere which blocks heat from the surface.
Mars has a thin atmosphere that cannot hold much heat.
Venus has a thick atmosphere which blocks heat from the surface.
Which of the following best explains why Mars' and Venus' surface temperatures vary, despite both planets having atmospheres that contain mostly carbon dioxide?(1 point)
Responses
Venus has a surface of high mountains which absorb heat.
Venus has a surface of high mountains which absorb heat.
Mars has a thin atmosphere that cannot hold much heat.
Mars has a thin atmosphere that cannot hold much heat.
Mars has a surface of red rocks and sand which reflect heat.
Mars has a surface of red rocks and sand which reflect heat.
Venus has a thick atmosphere which blocks heat from the surface.
The correct answer is:
Venus has a thick atmosphere which blocks heat from the surface.
The correct answer is: Venus has a thick atmosphere which blocks heat from the surface.
To understand why Mars' and Venus' surface temperatures vary despite both planets having atmospheres that contain mostly carbon dioxide, we need to consider the greenhouse effect. The greenhouse effect is the process by which certain gases in a planet's atmosphere trap heat from the sun and prevent it from escaping back into space, thus warming the planet's surface.
While both Mars and Venus have atmospheres rich in carbon dioxide, the key difference lies in the composition and thickness of their atmospheres. Venus has an atmosphere that is about 93 times thicker than Earth's atmosphere, mostly composed of carbon dioxide. This thick atmosphere acts as a blanket, trapping a significant amount of heat and causing a greenhouse effect that leads to extreme surface temperatures on Venus, reaching up to about 900 degrees Fahrenheit (475 degrees Celsius).
On the other hand, Mars has a much thinner atmosphere compared to Venus and Earth. The thin atmosphere on Mars is unable to trap and hold as much heat, resulting in much colder surface temperatures. Additionally, Mars has a surface covered in red rocks and sand, which have low thermal inertia and reflect a significant amount of sunlight, further contributing to lower temperatures.
Therefore, the best explanation for the temperature difference between Mars and Venus despite their similar carbon dioxide-rich atmospheres is that Venus has a thick atmosphere that blocks heat from the surface, while Mars has a thin atmosphere that cannot hold much heat.