Kane and Byrne present a valuable discussion on Venus as a reference point for understanding planetary habitability, but there are critical areas which require the authors to elaborate. The authors mention that Venus’s uninhabitable state is largely due to its proximity to the Sun, yet they do not adequately explore the interplay of internal heat, atmospheric composition, and other factors that may have contributed to the runaway greenhouse effect. A more detailed analysis of how these factors worked together would have provided a clearer understanding of Venus’s climate evolution. Additionally, the suggestion that Venus may have had liquid water in the past is interesting but lacks sufficient evidence or discussion of how upcoming missions could confirm this possibility.
Furthermore, the absence of a magnetic field on Venus is noted, but its implications for atmospheric retention and climate stability are not fully addressed. Since the presence or absence of a magnetic field plays a significant role in planetary habitability, this should be explored in more depth. A more thorough exploration of these factors, including how Venus’s internal and external conditions interacted, would strengthen the argument and offer a more complete picture of Venus’s role in understanding planetary habitability.
The authors’ insights on these points would be greatly appreciated, as this discussion could potentially lead to a suggestion for submitting a comment to the journal to clarify these important issues.