Ask A Scientist© Environmental Science Archive

Author:      betty a laliberte
Does oxygen conduct electricity easier than carbon dioxide?  I am asking this 
question because it seems that lightning reacts more violently to the air on 
Venus than to the atmosphere on Earth.

Response #:  1 of 1
Author:      mortis
That is an interesting observation.  But oxygen only makes up a small fraction 
of our atmosphere - air is mostly composed of nitrogen.  I think the violence 
of lightning on Venus might have more to do with the much higher atmospheric 
pressure and temperatures that create friction and build up static electric 
charges in Venusian clouds.  Maybe you could find more information on the 
atmosphere of Venus (and of Earth too for that matter) by connecting to the 
NASA Spacelink bulletin board.