Sources of SO and SO2 in the Mesosphere of Venus
Abstract
Venus Express and ground-based measurements of an inversion layer with enhanced concentrations of SO and SO2 in the mesosphere of Venus (Belyaev et al., 2008; 2010; Clancy et al. 2008) suggests a new source of gaseous sulfur that was not included in the previous models of Venus (see, e.g., Mills et al. 2007). A one-dimensional photochemistry-transport model is used to simulate the whole chemical system including oxygen-, hydrogen-, chlorine-, sulfur-, and nitrogen-bearing species (see schematic in Figure 1). The evaporation of aerosols composed of sulfuric acid (model A) or polysulfur (model B) above 90 km could provide a new source of gaseous sulfur species (Zhang et al. 2010; 2011). The implications of the new model are discussed in light of recent measurements (Sandor et al. 2011). Future measurements are needed to confirm the model predictions.
- Publication:
-
EPSC-DPS Joint Meeting 2011
- Pub Date:
- October 2011
- Bibcode:
- 2011epsc.conf..189Y