Chapter 149 - 148: Complex Impact
Because of their extremely low density, these molecular clouds were completely invisible to the naked eye. Their existence could only be detected through observation on a larger scale.
But both sides were well aware of the potential impact.
Faced with this situation, aside from trying to break through Li Qingsong’s defenses to destroy the water payloads and cause as much attrition as possible, the Blutuk People deployed a second countermeasure.
Li Qingsong clearly saw that when the first batch of molecular clouds reached Venus, the side of Venus facing Earth instantly erupted with countless dazzling flashes of light.
Violent energy and extreme heat instantly radiated from the points of detonation, sweeping away everything in the vicinity, both tangible and intangible.
These were large-yield Hydrogen Bombs, the most powerful weapon available to either side.
Numerous Hydrogen Bombs formed the final barrier against these water molecule clouds entering Venus.
Under the powerful radiation pressure of the Hydrogen Bombs, these molecular clouds, like cotton fluff in a gale, were instantly blown apart. A significant portion had their trajectories altered, changing from a Venus-impact course to one that merely grazed past the planet.
But...
Even for the Hydrogen Bomb, the most powerful of all weapons, the only means it could use to disperse the molecular clouds was radiation pressure.
And the radiation pressure from a Hydrogen Bomb was practically negligible compared to that of the Sun.
These molecular clouds had withstood even the Sun’s radiation pressure. Now that they had finally arrived at Venus, how could a few Hydrogen Bombs possibly disperse them all?
Many, many water molecules were driven away, failing to enter Venus. But even more water molecules were unaffected by the Hydrogen Bombs. They continued to merge silently into Venus’s extremely arid atmosphere, quietly changing its composition.
Although the effect of the Hydrogen Bombs was limited, the Blutuk People did not abandon this method.
After all, this was one of only two ways to stop the molecular water clouds from entering Venus. Even if it could only drive off a small portion, buying a little more time was enough.
Thus, the Blutuk People continued to detonate an average of over ten thousand large-yield Hydrogen Bombs outside Venus’s atmosphere every day.
One Hydrogen Bomb after another was detonated, as if Venus were hosting a fireworks show of unprecedented scale.
Time slipped by quietly.
Li Qingsong could clearly perceive that the attacks from the Blutuk People were growing more ferocious.
Resource resupplies from Venus grew faster, and reinforcements of new Warships and unmanned combat drones arrived in ever-increasing numbers.
But no matter what, Li Qingsong firmly defended Earth, ensuring that those space elevators could continue to operate normally.
「Two years passed.」
These space elevators had been operating for two years.
During this period, more than 100 space elevators were destroyed by the Blutuk People.
Under the fierce bombardment, they were severed mid-length.
Without the tension from its orbital anchor, the lower half of the space elevator began an irreversible descent. Pulled by Earth’s gravity, it ultimately struck the planet like a long, cosmic whip.
The incredibly heavy and resilient cable, carrying immense kinetic energy, sliced mountains in half, triggering massive rockslides.
The lash of the cable dammed great rivers, causing their banks to collapse and unleashing devastating floods.
When it struck the ocean, it triggered tsunamis, sending endless seawater surging onto the continents.
But... though more than 100 space elevators were destroyed, Li Qingsong simply built more than 100 to replace them!
As one was destroyed, another was built. Backed by Li Qingsong’s immense industrial power, the total number of space elevators was always maintained at 1,000. Sometimes, construction was so fast that the total would even exceed this number!
Regardless, the operation to transport water into space never ceased.
And so, in two years, Li Qingsong had transported a total of about 2.6 trillion tons of water into space.
This is roughly equivalent to transporting the entire water volume of 26 Qinghai Lakes into space!
After accounting for losses, it was estimated that the amount of water delivered to Venus in the form of molecular clouds had already exceeded two trillion tons!
Now, this staggering two trillion tons of water was triggering a series of reactions on Venus.
The first effect was the intense friction between the molecular water clouds and the Venusian atmosphere.
These molecular water clouds from Earth possessed an extremely high relative velocity. Upon entering the atmosphere of Venus, the water molecules were violently decelerated.
Deceleration means friction, and friction, of course, generates heat.
Thus, through constant friction, a large amount of heat was generated, making the already scorching Venusian atmosphere even hotter.
But this was not the end, merely the beginning.
The atmosphere of Venus is extremely dry, with a water content of only about 1 in 200,000—many times drier than a desert on Earth.
It is composed mainly of carbon dioxide—up to 96.5%—which is a greenhouse gas.
This massive amount of carbon dioxide acts like a thick blanket over Venus, trapping its heat. This is why its surface temperature is so high.
When large quantities of water molecules were introduced to the Venusian atmosphere, they existed as water vapor under the extremely high temperatures.
And... water vapor is also a potent greenhouse gas.
Its effect is in no way weaker than that of carbon dioxide!
Adding water to the atmosphere was equivalent to throwing another blanket on Venus over its existing carbon dioxide one, making its insulation even more powerful!
Venus would get even hotter!
But this, too, was not the end.
The Venusian atmosphere contains large amounts of sulfuric acid. It even condenses to form sulfuric acid clouds that float within the atmosphere.
Because of the lack of water, this sulfuric acid is highly concentrated.
The addition of water would dilute the concentrated sulfuric acid. And, of course, the process of diluting concentrated sulfuric acid... is also exothermic.
Frictional heating, a double-layered blanket of carbon dioxide and water vapor, and the exothermic reaction of sulfuric acid dilution... With all three combined, how high would the temperature on Venus climb?
But this, too, was not the end. The addition of a massive water supply would also trigger a series of other changes.
With the addition of water, the sulfuric acid rain on Venus would become more frequent. Imagine it: downpours of dilute sulfuric acid falling from the sky, blanketing every corner of the Venusian landscape. What kind of scene would that be?
Furthermore, the addition of sufficient moisture would make the Venusian atmosphere denser, increasing the atmospheric pressure. Venus already had lightning, and with the added water, thunderstorms would become even more frequent.
Then, the changes in atmospheric pressure would affect Venus’s already highly unstable geology. The planet’s frequent volcanic eruptions and earthquakes would grow even more common...
The surface of Venus would no longer be a hell; it would be Purgatory!
And this whole cascade of changes was happening for one simple reason: more water in the atmosphere of Venus!