Mountains covered with metals in Venus

2004/01/01 Elhuyar Zientzia Iturria: Elhuyar aldizkaria

• Fisika

Lead and bismuths abound in the mountains of Venus, according to the signals of the radars that have studied this planet. Mountains reflect much more easily the rays of radars than valleys. Therefore, astronomers believe that the concentration of these metals is high in the mountains and low in the lower territories. But it is not clear how these metals have come to the higher territories. Now scientists have launched a hypothesis to explain it.

(Photo: ANDÉN).

Although Venus is the size of the Earth, there is a big difference between the two. Venus has, among other things, an atmosphere of carbon dioxide, which being a very compact atmosphere produces a strong greenhouse effect. Therefore, the surface of the planet is greatly heated, reaching an average temperature of 647 degrees. This temperature is high enough to evaporate heavy metals and, according to scientists, condense at high altitudes. Through this process these metals accumulate at the top of the mountains. This distribution would not occur on Earth, but the temperature of Venus could occur there.