Matmg = psA
where g is the surface gravity and A is the planet's area. (This assumes g is constant throughout the atmosphere, which is a good approximation for these purposes.) The planetary data is here and here.
To my surprise I found that the mass of Venus's atmosphere is 92 times Earth's, the same ratio as the surface pressures. Why would that be?
Since g=GM/R2 and A=4πR2, this means the ratio
M/R4
must be nearly the same for both Venus and Earth (M=planet mass, R=planet radius). And they are, to about 0.1%.
Why? There's no reason I can see; they just are.
Am I missing something obvious? It's late and I've been working all day....
(By the way, this isn't true for Mercury or Mars.)
You are onto something here. Venus has a surface temperature of ~735 K @ 93 bars. Earth has a surface temperature of 288 K @ 1 bar.
ReplyDeleteCould the temperature difference have anything to do with the pressure difference?
http://www.drroyspencer.com/2011/12/why-atmospheric-pressure-cannot-explain-the-elevated-surface-temperature-of-the-earth/
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