Venus and Earth are similar in size, so they should have had similar amounts of volcanic outgassing adding to the atmosphere, and similar gravities resulting in a similar loss of atmospheric gas to space. Why, then, are their atmospheres so different? This table shows the composition of the planets’ atmospheres if all the carbon dioxide that exists anywhere on the planet were included: Carbon dioxide is added to the atmosphere through volcanic outgassing, and it is removed as it is absorbed by liquid water and then chemically combined with rock. Based on the text above and what you see in the table, what is the most likely reason Venus has a stronger greenhouse effect than Earth? Choose one: A. Venus is covered in clouds that reflect most of the sunlight away. B. Venus had more carbon dioxide added to the air through volcanic outgassing. C. Venus has a higher percentage of nitrogen than the Earth. D. Venus is closer to the Sun, so any liquid water that might have existed on the surface in the distant past would have evaporated away faster than on the Earth.

Question

Venus and Earth are similar in size, so they should have had similar amounts of volcanic outgassing adding to the atmosphere, and similar gravities resulting in a similar loss of atmospheric gas to space. Why, then, are their atmospheres so different?

This table shows the composition of the planets’ atmospheres if all the carbon dioxide that exists anywhere on the planet were included:

Carbon dioxide is added to the atmosphere through volcanic outgassing, and it is removed as it is absorbed by liquid water and then chemically combined with rock.

Based on the text above and what you see in the table, what is the most likely reason Venus has a stronger greenhouse effect than Earth?
Choose one:

A. Venus is covered in clouds that reflect most of the sunlight away.

B. Venus had more carbon dioxide added to the air through volcanic outgassing.

C. Venus has a higher percentage of nitrogen than the Earth.

D. Venus is closer to the Sun, so any liquid water that might have existed on the surface in the distant past would have evaporated away faster than on the Earth.