Archive · 30 Nov 2025
Venus' Extreme Winds Driven by Solar Heat
Venus has extremely fast winds that go around the planet much faster than the planet itself spins.
These winds are like a super-fast race that never stops.
Scientists have been trying to figure out why this happens.
They found that the heat from the Sun creates big waves in the air, called thermal tides, which help make the winds so fast.
These tides are like big pushes that keep the winds moving quickly.
The scientists used special satellites to study Venus and found that these thermal tides are a big reason why the winds are so extreme.
Understanding this can help us learn more about how planets work.
Venus' atmosphere rotates 60 times faster than the planet itself, a phenomenon known as superrotation.
New study shows that thermal tides, driven by solar heat, play a significant role in Venus' extreme winds.
Venus completes one full rotation in 243 Earth days, while its atmosphere orbits the planet in just four Earth days.
Researchers analyzed data from the Venus Express and Akatsuki satellites to study Venus' atmosphere.
Thermal tides, including diurnal and semidiurnal tides, help maintain Venus' superrotation by transmitting motion.
- Who
- Researchers using data from Venus Express and Akatsuki satellites
- What
- Discovery of the role of thermal tides in Venus' extreme winds
- When
- Study conducted between 2006 and 2022
- Where
- Venus
- Why
- To understand the cause of Venus' superrotation and extreme winds
- Planet
- Venus
- Wind Speed
- More than 100 meters per second
- Superrotation
- Atmosphere rotates 60 times faster than the planet
- Venus Rotation
- 243 Earth days for one full rotation
- Atmosphere Rotation
- 4 Earth days to orbit the planet
- Thermal Tides
- Driven by solar heat, contribute to extreme winds
- Study Period
- 2006 to 2022
- Satellites Used
- Venus Express, Akatsuki