Possible roles of gaseous sulfur and sulfanes in the atmosphere of Venus

Journal Article · Mon Oct 01 04:00:00 EDT 1979 · Geophys. Res. Lett.; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1029/GL006i010p00807· OSTI ID:5865904

Prinn, R G

We discuss the possible importance of gaseous elemental sulfur (particularly S/sub 2/, S/sub 3/ (thiozone) and S/sub 4/) and sulfanes (H/sub 2/S/sub n/) in the lower atmosphere of Venus. These species absorb visible and near ultraviolet light. They can provide a local heating source which could drive convection in the 10--40 km altitude region and may also contribute to the ultraviolet markings on the planet. Photodissociation of these species will result in non-equilibrium concentrations of S and SH. This drives the lower atmosphere away from the thermochemical equilibrium species: COS, H/sub 2/S, and S/sub n/ and toward SO/sub 2/ and possibly H/sub 2/S/sub n/. Some H/sub 2/O is also converted to O/sub 2/. We also discuss exothermic reactions which can provide local heating and light on the nightside.

• Research Organization: Department of Meteorology, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02139
• OSTI ID: 5865904
• Journal Information: Geophys. Res. Lett.; (United States), Journal Name: Geophys. Res. Lett.; (United States) Vol. 6:10; ISSN GPRLA
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

640107* -- Astrophysics & Cosmology-- Planetary Phenomena
71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS
GENERAL PHYSICS
ATMOSPHERES
ATTENUATION
CARBON COMPOUNDS
CARBON SULFIDES
CHALCOGENIDES
CHEMICAL REACTION KINETICS
HYDROGEN COMPOUNDS
HYDROGEN SULFIDES
KINETICS
NUMERICAL SOLUTION
OXIDES
OXYGEN COMPOUNDS
PLANETARY ATMOSPHERES
PLANETS
REACTION KINETICS
SULFIDES
SULFUR COMPOUNDS
SULFUR OXIDES
VENUS PLANET