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.
The explanation that best explains why Mars' and Venus' surface temperatures vary, despite both planets having atmospheres that contain mostly carbon dioxide, is that 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 having atmospheres that contain mostly carbon dioxide, we must consider the role of the atmosphere in regulating the temperature of a planet.
In the case of Venus, its atmosphere is extremely thick and consists mainly of carbon dioxide. This thick atmosphere acts like a blanket, trapping heat and preventing it from escaping back into space. As a result, Venus experiences a greenhouse effect, which leads to extremely high temperatures on its surface. The thick atmosphere prevents heat from escaping, causing the planet's surface to heat up significantly.
On the other hand, Mars also has a carbon dioxide-rich atmosphere, but it is much thinner compared to Venus. The thin atmosphere of Mars is not as effective at trapping heat, so it allows more heat to escape into space. Additionally, Mars' surface consists of red rocks and sand, which reflect a significant amount of sunlight rather than absorbing it. This reflective surface further contributes to the cooling of the planet. As a result, Mars has much colder surface temperatures compared to Venus.
Therefore, the correct explanation for the temperature difference between Mars and Venus is that Venus has a thick atmosphere which effectively blocks heat from the surface, while Mars has a thin atmosphere and a surface that reflects heat, resulting in different surface temperatures on the two planets.