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Limaye SS, Mogul R, Baines KH, Bullock MA, Cockell C, Cutts JA, Gentry DM, Grinspoon DH, Head JW, Jessup KL, Kompanichenko V, Lee YJ, Mathies R, Milojevic T, Pertzborn RA, Rothschild L, Sasaki S, Schulze-Makuch D, Smith DJ, Way MJ. Venus, an Astrobiology Target. ASTROBIOLOGY 2021; 21:1163-1185. [PMID: 33970019 DOI: 10.1089/ast.2020.2268] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
We present a case for the exploration of Venus as an astrobiology target-(1) investigations focused on the likelihood that liquid water existed on the surface in the past, leading to the potential for the origin and evolution of life, (2) investigations into the potential for habitable zones within Venus' present-day clouds and Venus-like exo atmospheres, (3) theoretical investigations into how active aerobiology may impact the radiative energy balance of Venus' clouds and Venus-like atmospheres, and (4) application of these investigative approaches toward better understanding the atmospheric dynamics and habitability of exoplanets. The proximity of Venus to Earth, guidance for exoplanet habitability investigations, and access to the potential cloud habitable layer and surface for prolonged in situ extended measurements together make the planet a very attractive target for near term astrobiological exploration.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sanjay S Limaye
- Space Science and Engineering Center, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, Wisconsin, USA
| | - Rakesh Mogul
- Chemistry and Biochemistry Department, Cal Poly Pomona, Pomona, California, USA
| | - Kevin H Baines
- Jet Propulsion Laboratory, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, California, USA
| | | | - Charles Cockell
- School of Physics and Astronomy, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, Scotland
| | - James A Cutts
- Jet Propulsion Laboratory, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, California, USA
| | - Diana M Gentry
- NASA Ames Research Center, Moffett Field, California, USA
| | | | - James W Head
- Department of Earth, Environmental and Planetary Sciences, Brown University, Providence, Rhode Island, USA
| | | | - Vladimir Kompanichenko
- Institute for Complex Analysis of Regional Problems, Russian Academy of Sciences, Birobidzhan, Russia
| | - Yeon Joo Lee
- Zentrum für Astronomie und Astrophysik, Technical University of Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | - Richard Mathies
- Chemistry Department and Space Sciences Lab, University of California, Berkeley, Berkeley, California, USA
| | - Tetyana Milojevic
- Department of Biophysical Chemistry, University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Rosalyn A Pertzborn
- Space Science and Engineering Center, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, Wisconsin, USA
| | | | - Satoshi Sasaki
- School of Health Sciences, Tokyo University of Technology, Hachioji, Japan
| | - Dirk Schulze-Makuch
- Center for Astronomy and Astrophysics (ZAA), Technische Universität Berlin, Berlin, Germany
- German Research Centre for Geosciences (GFZ), Potsdam, Germany
- Leibniz-Institute of Freshwater Ecology and Inland Fisheries (IGB), Stechlin, Germany
| | - David J Smith
- NASA Ames Research Center, Moffett Field, California, USA
| | - Michael J Way
- NASA Goddard Institute for Space Studies, New York, New York, USA
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McGouldrick K. Effects of variation in coagulation and photochemistry parameters on the particle size distributions in the Venus clouds. EARTH, PLANETS, AND SPACE : EPS 2017; 69:161. [PMID: 31997914 PMCID: PMC6956946 DOI: 10.1186/s40623-017-0744-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/04/2017] [Accepted: 11/14/2017] [Indexed: 06/10/2023]
Abstract
This paper explores the effects that variation in the coalescence efficiency of the Venus cloud particles can have on the structure of the Venus cloud. It is motivated by the acknowledgment of uncertainties in the measured parameters-and the assumptions made to account for them-that define our present knowledge of the particle characteristics. Specifically, we explore the consequence of allowing the coalescence efficiency of supercooled sulfuric acid in the upper clouds to tend to zero. This produces a cloud that occasionally exhibits an enhancement of small particles at altitude (similar to the upper hazes observed by Pioneer Venus and subsequently shown to be somewhat transient). This simulated cloud occasionally exhibits a rapid growth of particle size near cloud base, exhibiting characteristics similar to those seen in the controversial Mode 3 particles. These results demonstrate that a subset of the variations observed as near-infrared opacity variations in the lower and middle clouds of Venus can be explained by microphysical, in addition to dynamical, variations. Furthermore, the existence of a population of particles exhibiting less efficient coalescence efficiencies would support the likelihood of conditions suitable for charge exchange, hence lightning, in the Venus clouds. We recommend future laboratory studies on the coalescence properties of sulfuric acid under the range of conditions experienced in the Venus clouds. We also recommend future in situ measurements to better characterize the properties of the cloud particles themselves, especially composition and particle habits (shapes).
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Affiliation(s)
- Kevin McGouldrick
- Laboratory for Atmospheric and Space Physics, University of Colorado Boulder, 3665 Discovery Dr., Boulder, CO 80303 USA
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Satoh T, Imamura T, Hashimoto GL, Iwagami N, Mitsuyama K, Sorahana S, Drossart P, Piccioni G. Cloud structure in Venus middle‐to‐lower atmosphere as inferred from VEX/VIRTIS 1.74μm data. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2009. [DOI: 10.1029/2008je003184] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
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4
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Tellmann S, Pätzold M, Häusler B, Bird MK, Tyler GL. Structure of the Venus neutral atmosphere as observed by the Radio Science experiment VeRa on Venus Express. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2009. [DOI: 10.1029/2008je003204] [Citation(s) in RCA: 138] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
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Hashimoto GL, Roos-Serote M, Sugita S, Gilmore MS, Kamp LW, Carlson RW, Baines KH. Felsic highland crust on Venus suggested by Galileo Near-Infrared Mapping Spectrometer data. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2008. [DOI: 10.1029/2008je003134] [Citation(s) in RCA: 67] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
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Knibbe WJJ, de Haan JF, Hovenier JW, Travis LD. A biwavelength analysis of Pioneer Venus polarization observations. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 1997. [DOI: 10.1029/97je00312] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/10/2022]
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7
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Bertaux JL, Widemann T, Hauchecorne A, Moroz VI, Ekonomov AP. VEGA 1 and VEGA 2 entry probes: An investigation of local UV absorption (220-400 nm) in the atmosphere of Venus (SO2aerosols, cloud structure). ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 1996. [DOI: 10.1029/96je00466] [Citation(s) in RCA: 84] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/10/2022]
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8
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Brackett RA, Fegley B, Arvidson RE. Volatile transport on Venus and implications for surface geochemistry and geology. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 1995. [DOI: 10.1029/94je02708] [Citation(s) in RCA: 37] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
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9
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Linkin VM, Kerzhanovich VV, Lipatov AN, Shurupov AA, Seiff A, Ragent B, Young RE, Ingersoll AP, Crisp D, Elson LS, Preston RA, Blamont JE. Thermal Structure of the Venus Atmosphere in the Middle Cloud Layer. Science 1986; 231:1420-2. [PMID: 17748084 DOI: 10.1126/science.231.4744.1420] [Citation(s) in RCA: 32] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/02/2022]
Abstract
Thermal structure measurements obtained by the two VEGA balloons show the Venus middle cloud layer to be generally adiabatic. Temperatures measured by the two balloons at locations roughly symmetric about the equator differed by about 6.5 kelvins at a given pressure. The VEGA-2 temperatures were about 2.5 kelvins cooler and those of VEGA-1 about 4 kelvins warmer than temperatures measured by the Pioneer Venus Large Probe at these levels. Data taken by the VEGA-2 lander as it passed through the middle cloud agreed with those of the VEGA-2 balloon. Study of individual frames of the balloon data suggests the presence of multiple discrete air masses that are internally adiabatic but lie on slightly different adiabats. These adiabats, for a given balloon, can differ in temperature by as much as 1 kelvin at a given pressure.
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Sagdeev RZ, Linkin VM, Kerzhanovich VV, Lipatov AN, Shurupov AA, Blamont JE, Crisp D, Ingersoll AP, Elson LS, Preston RA, Hildebrand CE, Ragent B, Seiff A, Young RE, Petit G, Boloh L, Alexandrov YN, Armand NA, Bakitko RV, Selivanov AS. Overview of VEGA Venus Balloon in Situ Meteorological Measurements. Science 1986; 231:1411-4. [PMID: 17748081 DOI: 10.1126/science.231.4744.1411] [Citation(s) in RCA: 98] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/02/2022]
Abstract
The VEGA balloons made in situ measurements of pressure, temperature, vertical wind velocity, ambient light, frequency of lightning, and cloud particle backscatter. Both balloons encountered highly variable atmospheric conditions, with periods of intense vertical winds occurring sporadically throughout their flights. Downward winds as large as 3.5 meters per second occasionally forced the balloons to descend as much as 2.5 kilometers below their equilibrium float altitudes. Large variations, in pressure, temperature, ambient light level, and cloud particle backscatter (VEGA-1 only) correlated well during these excursions, indicating that these properties were strong functions of altitude in those parts of the middle cloud layer sampled by the balloons.
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Kremnev RS, Linkin VM, Lipatov AN, Pichkadze KM, Shurupov AA, Terterashvili AV, Bakitko RV, Blamont JE, Malique C, Ragent B, Preston RA, Elson LS, Crisp D. VEGA Balloon System and Instrumentation. Science 1986; 231:1408-11. [PMID: 17748080 DOI: 10.1126/science.231.4744.1408] [Citation(s) in RCA: 37] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/02/2022]
Abstract
The VEGA Venus balloon radio transmissions received on Earth were used to measure the motion of the balloons and to obtain the data recorded by onboard sensors measuring atmospheric characteristics. Thus the balloons themselves, the gondolas, the onboard sensors, and the radio transmission system were all components of the experiment. A description of these elements is given, and a few details of data sampling and formatting are discussed.
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14
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Suomi VE, Sromovsky LA, Revercomb HE. Net radiation in the atmosphere of Venus: Measurements and interpretation. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 1980. [DOI: 10.1029/ja085ia13p08200] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
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15
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Pollack JB, Toon OB, Whitten RC, Boese R, Ragent B, Tomasko M, Esposito L, Travis L, Wiedman D. Distribution and source of the UV absorption in Venus' atmosphere. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 1980. [DOI: 10.1029/ja085ia13p08141] [Citation(s) in RCA: 107] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
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16
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Tomasko MG, Smith PH, Suomi VE, Sromovsky LA, Revercomb HE, Taylor FW, Martonchik DJ, Seiff A, Boese R, Pollack JB, Ingersoll AP, Schubert G, Covey CC. The thermal balance of venus in light of the Pioneer Venus Mission. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 1980. [DOI: 10.1029/ja085ia13p08187] [Citation(s) in RCA: 49] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
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