Not just sulfuric acid: Venus' clouds are 60% water - study
Kyiv • UNN
NASA experts have determined that Venus' clouds are 62% water in the form of hydrates, and not just sulfuric acid. Sulfuric acid accounts for about 22%, and iron compounds have also been detected.
NASA specialists have found that Venus's clouds are composed of approximately 60% water, and not just sulfuric acid, as previously thought. This is reported by UNN with reference to the research results published in Journal of Geophysical Research: Planets.
Details
For a long time, scientists believed that Venus's clouds were almost entirely composed of sulfuric acid. However, it has now been revealed that previous data were outdated.
In fact, the clouds are based on hydrates - compounds of water with salts, in particular iron and magnesium sulfate.
The water content is 62%. However, on Venus, it does not exist in the form of droplets, as on Earth, but is bound in these compounds. Sulfuric acid is also present here, but its share is about 22%.
Scientists also found iron compounds - it probably could have entered the atmosphere along with cosmic dust.
Recall
Astronomers have discovered 128 new moons orbiting Saturn. This cemented its leadership in the list of Solar System planets with the most moons.