If Earth suddenly has the atmosphere of Venus

 

At a distance of 108 million kilometers (67 million miles) from the Sun, Venus is the second closest planet to the Sun in our solar system. So it is expected that the planet of love is a broiling hot inferno.

The conditions on Earth would drastically change if it had the atmosphere of Venus, making it incredibly inhospitable to life as we know it. Once the clear blue sky would now be a thick oppressive canvas of yellow with massive clouds of sulfuric acid. Though they would block out most of the Sun, this would not be enough to mitigate the extremely hot temperatures on the ground. How would that transform the Earth? Will that ring the death bell for all life on Earth? This is what would probably occur:

• Extreme Heat: Venus has a thick atmosphere primarily made up of carbon dioxide, with some clouds containing sulfuric acid. The runaway greenhouse effect produced by this dense atmosphere traps heat and raises temperatures to extremely high levels. Earth's average temperature would soar to around 460°C (860°F), hot enough to melt lead. 

• Crushing Pressure: The pressure in Venus's atmosphere is roughly 92 times higher than that of Earth. It is like living approximately 900 meters underwater. Human beings would be crushed and structures would be flattened by this pressure. 

• Toxic Atmosphere: Venus's atmosphere would be incredibly corrosive due to the sulfuric acid clouds. When they combine with water vapor in the Earth's atmosphere, they would produce acid rain, which is deadly to living things and capable of dissolving most materials. 
  

• No Oxygen: In the atmosphere of Venus, oxygen is scarce. Breathing would be impossible for most species, including humans, as a result. Asphyxia and death would result from a shortage of oxygen.

• No Liquid Water: Any water on the surface of the Earth would either boil away or exist as vapor high in the atmosphere due to the extremely high temperatures and pressure. There wouldn't be any liquid water left on the planet's surface, which is necessary for life as it exists now.

• No Protection from Radiation: Right now, the atmosphere of Earth acts as a barrier to keep dangerous solar radiation from reaching humans. This shield would be compromised in the presence of an atmosphere like Venus, leaving life on Earth vulnerable to hazardous solar radiation levels. 

But astronomers suggest that things were not always so drastic as it is today in Venus. A long time ago Venus might have had a climate similar to that of Earth. There might even have been oceans of water. But those times are long gone. With time the planet's atmosphere built up an excessive amount of carbon dioxide and other gases trapping heat from the Sun paving the way for a runaway greenhouse effect. Now the planet is basically an apocalyptic wasteland.

If Earth today had a similar atmosphere, all the gardens, trees, and forests would burn out leaving out their blackened skeletons. Birds will fall out of the sky. Animals would gasp their last breaths and even the fishes would bubble out of the sea. Water bodies across the planet will be at their boiling point. With time all the water will boil out and the surface of the Earth will become absolutely dry leaving behind the skeletons of the marine life. With enough time even the things that used to symbolize humanity's achievements would become grotesque sculptures of what they once were. Due to the extreme pressure, the buildings would collapse, and so would the bridges. Roads will develop cracks and become completely undrivable. This will present a devastating image. Overall, if Earth had the atmosphere of Venus, it would become an uninhabitable, hellish world devoid of life as we know it.

The only way to survive these extreme conditions is probably to take shelter underground. Subterranean shelters in the planet's crust will protect us from the extreme heat and pressure. With the right design, these shelters can recreate the favorable atmosphere that we need to stay alive. Geothermal energy can be harnessed and used in these shelters to power them. Another way of survival is to leave Earth and inhabit another planet that has favorable conditions for life. 

Maybe this transformation of Earth as we know it today into a Venus-like planet will not happen overnight as we tried to imagine in the above note, but conditions show that probably we are on course towards reaching such a situation. Global warming, melting of polar caps, pollution, and deforestation are all pointing towards such a catastrophic end to life on Earth.

It's a stark reminder of how delicate and crucial Earth's atmosphere is to sustaining life and preservation of this atmosphere should be our priority.

Prabir Rudra