Which Planet Has The Highest Average Temperature
Which planet has the highest average temperature?
Answer: Venus holds the title for the planet with the highest average temperature in our solar system. Although Mercury is closer to the Sun, Venus’s thick atmosphere, composed mostly of carbon dioxide, creates a strong greenhouse effect that traps heat very effectively. This results in surface temperatures that can reach around 467°C (872°F), making it hotter than Mercury, despite being further from the Sun.
Let’s break it down:
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Atmosphere: Venus’s atmosphere is about 96.5% carbon dioxide, a greenhouse gas, which means it traps heat as it absorbs energy from the Sun.
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Greenhouse Effect: Similar to how a greenhouse works on Earth, the thick clouds on Venus reflect sunlight back towards the surface while preventing heat from escaping, leading to extremely high temperatures.
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Comparison with Mercury: Mercury lacks a substantial atmosphere, which means it cannot retain heat like Venus does. As a result, it experiences extreme fluctuations in temperature between day and night.
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Consistency: Venus’s temperature is consistent across various locations, whether it’s day or night, due to this intense greenhouse effect.
Summary: Venus, not Mercury, experiences the highest average temperatures due to its dense carbon dioxide atmosphere and significant greenhouse effect, which consistently trap heat.
Feel free to ask if you have more questions about planets or other science topics! @anonymous