What substance could potentially flow and pool on the surface of Venus?

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SUMMARY

The discussion centers on the potential substances that could flow and pool on the surface of Venus, given its extreme temperature and pressure conditions. Participants suggest that while there are no lakes or rivers, materials like molten lead and brimstone may exist in liquid form. Lead, despite its high density, can flow when molten, and brimstone's boiling point increases significantly under Venusian pressure, allowing it to remain liquid. The conversation highlights the importance of viscosity over density in determining fluid flow on Venus.

PREREQUISITES
  • Understanding of Venusian atmospheric conditions, including temperature and pressure.
  • Knowledge of fluid dynamics, specifically the concepts of viscosity and density.
  • Familiarity with the properties of materials such as lead and brimstone under extreme conditions.
  • Basic principles of planetary geology and surface processes.
NEXT STEPS
  • Research the properties of molten lead and its behavior under varying pressures.
  • Investigate the effects of pressure on the boiling points of substances like brimstone.
  • Explore the concept of viscosity in fluids and its impact on flow dynamics.
  • Study the geological history of Venus to understand its past potential for liquid water.
USEFUL FOR

Planetary scientists, geologists, and researchers interested in extraterrestrial environments and fluid dynamics under extreme conditions will benefit from this discussion.

Terdbergler
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I realize that there are no lakes or rivers on Venus, but, given the surface temperature, pressure, etc. what substance COULD flow and pool on Venus the way water and liquid ethane flow and pool on the surfaces of Earth and Titan respectively?
 
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I don't know. Rivers of lead, maybe? :p It would be too dense to flow like a river, I guess. Unless the river is really steep
 
It is certainly possible Venus may once have had liquid water on its surface before 'global warming' took over. Just about anything that melts, but, does not boil in the current Venusian environment could be present.
 
M-TheorySUCKS said:
I don't know. Rivers of lead, maybe? :p It would be too dense to flow like a river, I guess. Unless the river is really steep

In the liquid state, lead flows quite readily. The rate of flow of a fluid is not connected so much to the density as to the viscosity of the fluid. For example, residual fuel oils have approximately the same density as water, but these oils must be heated in order to reduce their viscosity sufficiently to allow them to be pumped without expending a tremendous amount of power to do so.
 
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Another problem is that molten lead, like quicksilver or bismuth, are dense - denser than rocks. They would squeeze into cracks in ground.

How about brimstone? Its boiling point at 1 bar is 444 degrees, but surface of Venus has 92 bar pressure, and the boiling point of brimstone rises to 1041 degrees at the critical point of 203 bar.
 

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