Vertical Profiling of SO2 above Venus’ Clouds by means of SPICAV/SOIR Occultations

Details Vertical Profiling of SO2 above Venus’ Clouds by means of SPICAV/SOIR Occultations Vertical Profiling of SO2 above Venus’ Clouds by means of SPICAV/SOIR Occultations

Sep 2009

adsabs.harvard.edu/cgi-bin/nph-data_query?bibcode=2009dps....41.6004b&link_type=abstract

American Astronomical Society, DPS meeting #41, #60.04

Computer Science

Sound

Scientific paper

Sulfur dioxide (SO2) is an important component of Venus’ atmosphere because this gas is the chemical precursor of H2SO4 droplets clouds which completely enshroud Venus. Behavior of SO2 within and above the clouds may be significant indicator of their photochemistry and dynamics and possible geological activity on the planet's surface. SO2 on Venus has been being explored for 30 years with mainly nadir observations. Nowadays the SPICAV/SOIR instrument onboard Venus Express orbiter is measuring content of sulfur dioxide either by nadir or by occultation soundings that provides a global SO2 monitoring above Venus’ clouds. Here we present results of joint solar occultation experiment by SPICAV spectrometer in UV and SOIR spectrometer in IR. The first one gives vertical distribution of sulfur dioxide in absorption band 215 nm at altitudes 85-110 km, the second one sounds SO2 in a band around 4 µm at altitudes 65-75 km. Our equipment is not sensitive to the gas detection in-between 75-85 km because of its photochemical and absorption features in UV and IR. At Venus’ clouds top (65-70 km) SO2 mixing ratio varies from 0.1 to 1 ppm depending on latitude and local time (morning or evening); it decreases down to upper limit 0.05 ppm at 75 km. From UV data the mixing ratio increases from 0.1 ppm at 85 km up to 1-5 ppm at 110 km.

Affiliated with

Also associated with

No associations

Rating

Vertical Profiling of SO2 above Venus’ Clouds by means of SPICAV/SOIR Occultations does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this scientific paper.

If you have personal experience with Vertical Profiling of SO2 above Venus’ Clouds by means of SPICAV/SOIR Occultations, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Vertical Profiling of SO2 above Venus’ Clouds by means of SPICAV/SOIR Occultations will most certainly appreciate the feedback.

Rate now

Comments { 0 }

Profile ID: LFWR-SCP-O-1334037