Venus Was Wet: A Measurement of the Ratio of Deuterium to Hydrogen
Abstract
The deuterium-hydrogen abundance ratio in the Venus atmosphere was measured while the inlets to the Pioneer Venus large probe mass spectrometer were coated with sulfuric acid from Venus' clouds. The ratio is (1.6 ± 0.2) × 10 –2 . The hundredfold enrichment of deuterium means that at least 0.3 percent of a terrestrial ocean was outgassed on Venus, but is consistent with a much greater production.
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The evidence for extensive hydrogen escape comes from measurements of the hydrogen isotopes in Venus' atmosphere; deuterium is enriched 100-fold relative to Earth.
“The evidence for extensive hydrogen escape comes from measurements of the hydrogen isotopes in Venus’ atmosphere; deuterium (2H, also commonly denoted by D) is enriched 100-fold relative to Earth.”
From The Astrobiology Primer v2.0 (2016) · cites this paper as Donahue et al., 1982
Lighter 1H atoms overcome gravity and escape more easily than 2H atoms, so the excess of 2H supports the hypothesis of hydrogen loss by escape and a previously wet Venus.
“Lighter 1H atoms overcome gravity and escape more easily than 2H atoms, so the excess of 2H supports the hypothesis of hydrogen loss by escape and a previously wet Venus (Donahue et al., 1982).”
From The Astrobiology Primer v2.0 (2016) · cites this paper as Donahue et al., 1982
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“Lighter 1H atoms overcome gravity and escape more easily than 2H atoms, so the excess of 2H supports the hypothesis of hydrogen loss by escape and a previously wet Venus (Donahue et al., 1982).”
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- Authors
- Donahue, T. M., Hoffman, J. H., Hodges, R. R., & Watson, A. J.
- Affiliations
- University of Michigan (US)
- The University of Texas at Dallas (US)
- Marine Biological Association of the United Kingdom (GB)
- Venue
- Science
- Published
- 1982-05-07
- Volume
- 216
- Issue
- 4546
- Pages
- 630-633
- ISSN
- 0036-8075 (ISSN-L)
- 1095-9203
- OpenAlex
- W2066865701
- Cited by
- 446
- References
- 0
- Citations by year
- 2026: 19 · 2025: 17 · 2024: 20 · 2023: 18 · 2022: 13 · 2021: 21 · 2020: 16 · 2019: 34 · 2018: 18 · 2017: 8 · 2016: 9 · 2015: 11 · 2014: 10 · 2013: 20 · 2012: 4
- FWCI
- 21.07
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- Science (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Topics
- Physical Sciences › Physics and Astronomy › Astronomy and Astrophysics › Astro and Planetary Science
- Physical Sciences › Physics and Astronomy › Astronomy and Astrophysics › Planetary Science and Exploration
- Physical Sciences › Physics and Astronomy › Astronomy and Astrophysics › Stellar, planetary, and galactic studies
- Keywords
- Venus atmosphere, deuterium/hydrogen ratio, deuterium enrichment, atmospheric water
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