<P> Surface level humidity is less than 0.1% . Venus's sulfuric acid rain never reaches the ground, but is evaporated by the heat before reaching the surface in a phenomenon known as virga . It is theorized that early volcanic activity released sulfur into the atmosphere and the high temperatures prevented it from being trapped into solid compounds on the surface as it was on the Earth . </P> <P> In 2009 a prominent bright spot in the atmosphere was noted by an amateur astronomer and photographed by Venus Express . Its cause is currently unknown, with surface volcanism advanced as a possible explanation . </P> <P> The clouds of Venus are capable of producing lightning much like the clouds on Earth . The existence of lightning had been controversial outside of the former Soviet Union since the first suspected bursts were detected by the Soviet Venera probes . However, in 2006--2007 Venus Express was reported to detect whistler mode waves, which were attributed to lightning . Their intermittent appearance indicates a pattern associated with weather activity . The lightning rate is at least half of that on Earth . </P> <P> The sulfuric acid droplets can be highly electrically charged, and so they offer the potential for lightning . Venus' small induced magnetosphere provides negligible protection to the atmosphere against cosmic radiation . This radiation may result in cloud - to - cloud lightning discharges . </P>

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