Sulpfur on Venus and Earth — Why the Difference?
Venus has been called Earth's twin. More like "evil twin", because it has extremely hot temperatures (being closer to the sun causes "global warming"), lots of volcanic activity, sulfur dioxide clouds, and atmospheric pressure. The first probes to land on another planet were sent by the former Soviet Union, the Venera program (Venera 13 sent back the first color pictures from Venus), but they didn't last long in that environment.
Although Venus is known for sulphur, Earth has quite a bit of the stuff, too. Here, we have a "sulphur cycle", where a complex system of information coded for in genes tells cells how to use the stuff. We need sulfur, but it can be toxic when used improperly. Or not used at all, like on Earth's evil twin, Venus. Earth was created differently.
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| Venus — Computer Simulated Global View Centered at 180° E. Longitude / NASA/JPL |
Both planets have abundant sulfur, but Earth life has a way of cycling it for good.To read the rest, click on "Fire and Brimstone: Why Earth Isn’t Like Venus".
The recent evidence for active volcanism on Venus (Science Magazine, Science Daily) has excited planetary scientists who long suspected it. Eight years ago, spikes in sulfur dioxide measurements provided indirect evidence; now, hot spots detected by the ESA’s Venus Express orbiter seem to confirm the presence of lava lakes on the surface (New Scientist). Sulfur has a deathly presence at our hellish twin planet. In the atmosphere, it forms droplets of sulfuric acid (H2SO4), adding insult to the injury of temperatures approaching 900° F.
Earth has plenty of sulfur as well. In fact, the core may be “brimming with brimstone” (Science Magazine) if that explains why it is lighter than expected.