What scenario results if a planet orbits too closely to its host star, related to Venus?
Answer
Any surface water boils away, resulting in a Venus-like runaway greenhouse scenario.
When a planet orbits too near its star, it receives excessive radiant energy, causing surface temperatures to rise above the boiling point of water. This leads to the vaporization of all surface water bodies. Water vapor is a potent greenhouse gas; once it accumulates in the atmosphere, it traps more heat, creating a self-reinforcing positive feedback loop known as a runaway greenhouse effect. This process drives temperatures higher still, potentially stripping the planet of its water entirely and leaving a hot, desiccated world analogous to the current state of Venus.
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