American scientists from Arizona State University have found an explanation for the mysterious flares often recorded in the atmosphere of Venus. According to them, the flares on the second planet from the Sun are not caused by storm activity but by the passage of meteors. To work published In the scientific journal Planets: Journal of Geophysical Research.
Astronomers studying Venus have been noticing bright reflections in its clouds for years. Until recently, this event was explained by a lightning strike, but this remained only a theory. Probes sent to the neighboring planet recorded bursts of electromagnetic interference comparable to those occurring during storms on land. But static electricity emissions never coincided with the flashes.
Researchers found that between 10,000 and 100,000 explosions occur on Venus each year; this is much more than on Earth. According to planetary scientists, Venus moves in a narrower orbit around the Sun than the Earth, so cosmic fragments enter its atmosphere at high speed and burn brighter. Secondly, due to the characteristics of the Venus atmosphere, even small flames are clearly visible.
By comparing the number of explosions recorded in Venus’ atmosphere with the number of possible meteor impacts, the team found that the numbers were quite close. The discovery could help prepare future missions to Venus because the probes would not have to pass through electrically charged clouds.
Earlier astronomers discovered Signs of volcanic activity on Venus.