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How different are the atmospheres of Venus, Earth, and Mars? Can you tell me the characteristics that make them different? Has any of these three planets a very different atmosphere from the other two?
Question Date: 2010-12-15
Answer 1:

None of these planets have remotely similar atmospheres.

The Venusian atmosphere is about a hundred times denser than that of the Earth, and the Martian atmosphere is a hundred times less dense. The Venusian atmosphere is similar to the Martian atmosphere in that it is mostly carbon dioxide, while the Earth's atmosphere is largely nitrogen, but in terms of its effect on Venusian climate, the effect is totally different: the atmosphere on Mars is still so thin that the planet has almost no greenhouse effect, while the surface temperatures of Venus are hot enough to melt lead.



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