Strange Molecule Found in Venus's Atmosphere

[dragon04]

<font color="yellow">A strange gaseous molecule has been discovered lurking in the atmospheres of both Mars and Venus, scientists announced today, adding that it could affect Venus's hyperactive greenhouse effect.<br /><br />The molecule's signature was first noticed in Venus's atmosphere in April 2006, when the European Space Agency's Venus Express arrived at the planet and began to measure the composition of the atmosphere.</font><br /><br />Article Here.<br /><br />One of the two Oxygen atoms combined with the carbon atom has 10 neutrons instead of 8.<br /><br /> <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <em>"2012.. Year of the Dragon!! Get on the Dragon Wagon!".</em> </div>

 

[dragon04]

But scientists are speculating that the unique form of CO2 is what at least contributed to runaway greenhouse on Venus. <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <em>"2012.. Year of the Dragon!! Get on the Dragon Wagon!".</em> </div>

 

[vogon13]

Oxygen 18 is a known isotope. So is oxygen 17.<br /><br />Not sure why anyone would be surprised to find some in CO2 . . . <br /><br /> <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <p><font color="#ff0000"><strong>TPTB went to Dallas and all I got was Plucked !!</strong></font></p><p><font color="#339966"><strong>So many people, so few recipes !!</strong></font></p><p><font color="#0000ff"><strong>Let's clean up this stinkhole !!</strong></font> </p> </div>

 

[dragon04]

It's the <b>quantity</b> they've found in the Venusian atmosphere that's at issue. Not simply that it's present.<br /><br /> <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <em>"2012.. Year of the Dragon!! Get on the Dragon Wagon!".</em> </div>

 

[dragon04]

<font color="yellow">Yes but all that means is that Venus was meant to always be that way ..</font><br /><br />Perhaps a fair statement, but I'm very curious as to how that occurred, and what it might mean to our biosphere now and in the future.<br /><br />If there was a lower concentration of this energy absorbing CO2 in the Venusian atmosphere, would Venus be closer to habitable?<br /><br />I'll be interested to see future investigation.<br /><br /> <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <em>"2012.. Year of the Dragon!! Get on the Dragon Wagon!".</em> </div>

 

[michaelmozina]

<blockquote><font class="small">In reply to:</font><hr /><p>It's the quantity they've found in the Venusian atmosphere that's at issue. Not simply that it's present.<p><hr /></p></p></blockquote><br /><br />I suppose that the logical next questions are "how much" of the 0xygen 18 isotopes are present in the atmosphere, and where did they come from? I think that we would not expect Oxygen 18 to be more abundant on Venus than on Earth, but as Vogon mentioned, it's not unexpected that we would see some Oxygen 18 isotopes. My guess is that they were "surprised" by the relative abundance of that particular isotope, not that they were surprised that the isotope was present in the CO2 atmosphere. <br /><br />I guess I'll actually need to read the paper. <img src="/images/icons/smile.gif" /><br /> <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> It seems to be a natural consequence of our points of view to assume that the whole of space is filled with electrons and flying electric ions of all kinds. - Kristian Birkeland </div>

 

[h2ouniverse]

The ratio cn be altered on Earth as well.<br />O-18 is used as an indicator of past glaciations.