If the Earth's surface temperature were increased to that of Mercury's day side, then:
A)we would lose most of our water vapor into space.
B)the evaporating oceans would thicken the atmosphere greatly.
C)the erupting volcanoes would greatly increase the carbon dioxide greenhouse.
D)little would happen, as the Earth is still the same mass and surface gravity.
E)the Earth would, like Mercury, lose all its atmospheric gases.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

If the Earth's surface temperature were to increase to that of Mercury's day side (about 430 degrees Celsius), then the high temperatures would cause most of the water vapor in our atmosphere to evaporate and escape into space. Mercury has a very thin atmosphere because it is too small and too hot to hold onto gases, including water vapor. The same would happen to Earth if its temperature was increased to that of Mercury's day side.

If the Earth's Surface Temperature Were Increased to That of Mercury's