Physics
Scientific paper
Jul 1988
adsabs.harvard.edu/cgi-bin/nph-data_query?bibcode=1988stin...8826281f&link_type=abstract
Unknown
Physics
Atmospheric Chemistry, Chemical Reactions, Clouds (Meteorology), Planetary Atmospheres, Rates (Per Time), Replenishment, Sulfuric Acid, Venus (Planet), Venus Surface, Volcanology, Calcite, Calcium Compounds, Sulfates, Sulfur Dioxides
Scientific paper
The maintenance of the global H2SO4 clouds on Venus requires volcanism to replenish the atmospheric SO2 which is continually being removed from the atmosphere by reaction with calcium minerals on the surface of Venus. The first laboratory measurements of the rate of one such reaction, between SO2 and calcite (CaCO3) to form anhydrite (CaSO4), are reported. If the rate of this reaction is representative of the SO2 reaction rate at the Venus surface, then we estimate that all SO2 in the Venus atmosphere (and thus the H2SO4 clouds) will be removed in 1.9 million years unless the lost SO2 is replenished by volcanism. The required rate of volcanism ranges from about 0.4 to about 11 cu km of magma erupted per year, depending on the assumed sulfur content of the erupted material. If this material has the same composition as the Venus surface at the Venera 13, 14 and Vega 2 landing sites, then the required rate of volcanism is about 1 cu km per year. This independent geochemically estimated rate can be used to determine if either (or neither) of the two discordant (2 cu km/year vs. 200 to 300 cu km/year) geophysically estimated rates is correct. The geochemically estimated rate also suggests that Venus is less volcanically active than the Earth.
Fegley Bruce Jr.
Prinn Ronald G.
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