Red Orbit, 7/5/13
Image Credit: Illustration of how material ejected from the Sun (on the left) interacts with the magnetic field of the Earth (on the right). The white lines represent the solar wind; the purple line is the bow shock line and the blue lines surrounding the Earth represent its protective magnetosphere. Credit: NASA
The presence of an atmosphere – among many other factors – is vital for the evolution of life as we know it on a planet. However, this seemingly simple requirement is bathed in a multitude of variables that can affect its creation and existence. Thus, establishing an atmosphere is by no means a trivial detail.
Scientists believe mechanisms such as volcanic eruptions, other tectonic activity and even comet impacts could all play a role in creating an atmosphere on a planet. But once in place, maintaining it is another problem all together.
