Mercury is the closest planet to our sun. Venus is the second closest planet. Given the data presented about Mercury and Venus below, what can you conclude about the relationship between rising carbon dioxide levels and increased global temperatures on Earth? How can evidence from other planets help understand what is going on here on earth? Discuss by stating a hypothesis, mechanisms, and using data.
Mercury is the closest planet to our sun. Venus is the second closest planet. Given the data presented about Mercury and Venus below, what can you conclude about the relationship between rising carbon dioxide levels and increased global temperatures on Earth? How can evidence from other planets help understand what is going on here on earth? Discuss by stating a hypothesis, mechanisms, and using data.
Applications and Investigations in Earth Science (9th Edition)
9th Edition
ISBN:9780134746241
Author:Edward J. Tarbuck, Frederick K. Lutgens, Dennis G. Tasa
Publisher:Edward J. Tarbuck, Frederick K. Lutgens, Dennis G. Tasa
Chapter1: The Study Of Minerals
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Mercury is the closest planet to our sun. Venus is the second closest planet.
Given the data presented about Mercury and Venus below, what can you conclude about the relationship between rising carbon dioxide levels and increased global temperatures on Earth?
How can evidence from other planets help understand what is going on here on earth? Discuss by stating a hypothesis, mechanisms, and using data.
![## Planetary Atmospheres and Temperatures
Below is a comparative chart of the four terrestrial planets in our solar system: Mercury, Venus, Earth, and Mars. It illustrates key atmospheric parameters and surface temperatures. Here is a detailed breakdown:
### Temperature Data
- **\( T_P \)**: Average surface temperature calculated from energy balance equations (in Kelvin and Celsius).
- **\( T_{\text{obs}} \)**: Average observed surface temperature (in Kelvin and Celsius).
### Atmospheric Composition and Pressure
- **Pressure (in kPa)**: Indicates the atmospheric pressure at the surface.
- **Composition**: Lists the primary gases present in the atmosphere along with their volume fractions.
| Planet | Mercury | Venus | Earth | Mars |
|--------|---------|-------|-------|------|
| **\( T_P \), K (°C)** | 437 (163) | 232 (-41) | 255 (-18) | 209 (-64) |
| **\( T_{\text{obs}} \), K (°C)** | ~440 (167) | 735 (462) | 288 (15) | 215 (-58) |
| **Atmosphere: Pressure, kPa** | none | 9300 | 101 | 0.64 |
| **Composition** | none | CO₂ (0.965),<br> N₂ (0.035),<br> [SO₂, Ar] | N₂ (0.78),<br> O₂ (0.21),<br> Ar (0.009),<br> [CO₂, H₂O] | CO₂ (0.95),<br> N₂ (0.03),<br> Ar (0.02),<br> [O₂, CO] |
### Detailed Explanations
1. **Mercury**:
- Mercury has no significant atmosphere. Its \( T_{\text{obs}} \) is approximately 440 K (167°C), while the temperature calculated from energy balance is around 437 K (163°C).
2. **Venus**:
- Venus has a thick atmosphere composed mainly of Carbon Dioxide (CO₂) at 96.5% and Nitrogen (N₂) at 3.5%.
- The atmospheric pressure on Venus is extremely high at 9300 kPa.
- Surface temperatures are extremely high due to the greenhouse effect,](/v2/_next/image?url=https%3A%2F%2Fcontent.bartleby.com%2Fqna-images%2Fquestion%2F5ad3336a-152b-4c63-8ce0-973a93007cc1%2Fc6a2958e-936b-48e0-a7b1-d7d82b8849e3%2Fk9l8r38_processed.jpeg&w=3840&q=75)
Transcribed Image Text:## Planetary Atmospheres and Temperatures
Below is a comparative chart of the four terrestrial planets in our solar system: Mercury, Venus, Earth, and Mars. It illustrates key atmospheric parameters and surface temperatures. Here is a detailed breakdown:
### Temperature Data
- **\( T_P \)**: Average surface temperature calculated from energy balance equations (in Kelvin and Celsius).
- **\( T_{\text{obs}} \)**: Average observed surface temperature (in Kelvin and Celsius).
### Atmospheric Composition and Pressure
- **Pressure (in kPa)**: Indicates the atmospheric pressure at the surface.
- **Composition**: Lists the primary gases present in the atmosphere along with their volume fractions.
| Planet | Mercury | Venus | Earth | Mars |
|--------|---------|-------|-------|------|
| **\( T_P \), K (°C)** | 437 (163) | 232 (-41) | 255 (-18) | 209 (-64) |
| **\( T_{\text{obs}} \), K (°C)** | ~440 (167) | 735 (462) | 288 (15) | 215 (-58) |
| **Atmosphere: Pressure, kPa** | none | 9300 | 101 | 0.64 |
| **Composition** | none | CO₂ (0.965),<br> N₂ (0.035),<br> [SO₂, Ar] | N₂ (0.78),<br> O₂ (0.21),<br> Ar (0.009),<br> [CO₂, H₂O] | CO₂ (0.95),<br> N₂ (0.03),<br> Ar (0.02),<br> [O₂, CO] |
### Detailed Explanations
1. **Mercury**:
- Mercury has no significant atmosphere. Its \( T_{\text{obs}} \) is approximately 440 K (167°C), while the temperature calculated from energy balance is around 437 K (163°C).
2. **Venus**:
- Venus has a thick atmosphere composed mainly of Carbon Dioxide (CO₂) at 96.5% and Nitrogen (N₂) at 3.5%.
- The atmospheric pressure on Venus is extremely high at 9300 kPa.
- Surface temperatures are extremely high due to the greenhouse effect,
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