Identification of OSSO as a near-UV absorber in the Venusian atmosphere

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The planet Venus exhibits atmospheric absorption in the 320–400 nm wavelength range produced by unknown chemistry. We investigate electronic transitions in molecules that may exist in the atmosphere of Venus. We identify two different S2O2 isomers, cis-OSSO and trans-OSSO, which are formed in significant amounts and are removed predominantly by near-UV photolysis. We estimate the rate of photolysis of cis- and trans-OSSO in the Venusian atmosphere and find that they are good candidates to explain the enigmatic 320–400 nm near-UV absorption. Between 58 and 70 km, the calculated OSSO concentrations are similar to those of sulfur monoxide (SO), generally thought to be the second most abundant sulfur oxide on Venus.

OriginalsprogEngelsk
TidsskriftGeophysical Research Letters
Vol/bind43
Udgave nummer21
Sider (fra-til)11,146-11,155
Antal sider10
ISSN0094-8276
DOI
StatusUdgivet - 2016

ID: 170742141