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Meridional distribution of CO, H2O, and H2SO4 in the Venus’ atmosphere: a two-dimensional model incorporating transport and chemical reaction
  • Shinya Kuwayama,
  • George L. Hashimoto
Shinya Kuwayama
Okayama University

Corresponding Author:[email protected]

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George L. Hashimoto
Okayama University
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Abstract

We developed a 2-dimensional model of Venus’ atmosphere which calculates meridional distributions of chemical species such as CO, H2O, and H2SO4. To calculate the meridional distribution of chemically active species, we combined chemical model, cloud model, and transport model. Partitioning between gas and liquid phase is calculated assuming vapor-liquid equilibrium, and the number density of cloud droplet is calculated by taking coagulation into account. Our model demonstrated that the meridional distributions of CO and H2O are sensitive to the circulation of the Venus’ atmosphere. Observed meridional distribution of CO indicates that there is a large scale meridional circulation from the lower (below 20 km altitude) to the upper (above 80 km altitude) atmosphere. Also observed concentration of H2O vapor above the cloud top suggests that meridional circulation ventilates the air above the cloud top on a time scale of 600 days. In our model, thick clouds at low latitudes are maintained by meridional circulation, while thick clouds at high latitudes are caused by latitudinal temperature gradient and horizontal transport of H2SO4 vapor.
11 Jul 2024Submitted to ESS Open Archive
15 Jul 2024Published in ESS Open Archive