The Electric Wind of Venus

  • Released Monday, June 20, 2016
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Venus has an "electric wind" strong enough to remove the components of water from its upper atmosphere. This action may have played a significant role in stripping Earth's twin planet of its oceans, according to new research results from the European Space Agency's Venus Express mission led by NASA-funded researchers. Lead author of the research paper, Glyn Collinson, explains that "electric wind" can strip Earth-like planets of oceans and atmospheres.

"Electric Wind" can strip Earth-like planets of oceans and atmospheres.

Watch this video on the NASA Goddard YouTube channel.

Complete transcript available.

Graphic comparing surface temperature and gravit on Venus and Earth. Credit: NASA/GSFC/CIL/GESTAR/Brian Monroe

Graphic comparing surface temperature and gravit on Venus and Earth.

Credit: NASA/GSFC/CIL/GESTAR/Brian Monroe

Graphic comparing day length and radius of Venus and Earth.Credit: NASA/GSFC/CIL/USRA/Brian Monroe

Graphic comparing day length and radius of Venus and Earth.

Credit: NASA/GSFC/CIL/USRA/Brian Monroe

Graphic comparing the atmospheric composition and electric field strength of Venus and Earth. Credit: NASA/GSFC/CIL/USRA/Brian Monroe

Graphic comparing the atmospheric composition and electric field strength of Venus and Earth.

Credit: NASA/GSFC/CIL/USRA/Brian Monroe

Credits

Please give credit for this item to:
NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center

This page was originally published on Monday, June 20, 2016.
This page was last updated on Wednesday, May 3, 2023 at 1:48 PM EDT.

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