ATMOSPHERE Venus's atmosphere is mainly composed of carbon dioxide with traces of nitrogen and sulfuric acid clouds. It's incredibly dense and hot, creating a runaway greenhouse effect. The surface pressure is about 92 times that of Earth, equivalent to being nearly a kilometer underwater. Extreme temperatures, averaging 462°C (864°F), result in a harsh environment where lead would melt. High-speed winds reaching 360 km/h (224 mph) circulate the planet, contributing to a hostile landscape with corrosive rain and a thick, opaque atmosphere, trapping heat and making it one of the most inhospitable places in the solar system.