Why does Venus fail to sustain liquid water despite its position near the inner edge of the solar system's habitable zone?
Answer
A dense, carbon-dioxide-rich atmosphere triggers a runaway greenhouse effect that raises surface temperatures
While Venus is located near the inner boundary of the solar system's habitable zone, it experiences extreme surface conditions that prohibit liquid water. The planet possesses a very dense atmosphere filled with carbon dioxide, which creates an intense runaway greenhouse effect. This process traps heat so effectively that surface temperatures become hot enough to melt lead. Under these extreme thermal conditions, any water that might have once existed on the surface is vaporized and cannot remain in a liquid state.
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