Decode the formation of SO2 gas on Venus's atmosphere

US and French scientists have successfully deciphered the secret of Venus's upper layer of atmospheric SO ₂ by analyzing data collected from the probe "Venus Express."

Venus. (NASA photo)

According to scientists, the upper atmosphere area of ​​Venus with a height of about 50-70km exists a cloud layer of H ₂ SO4.

The H ₂ SO4 cloud layer is formed by a combination of SO ₂ and steam due to volcanic eruption on Venus's surface. When the altitude is over 70km above the surface of Venus, the H ₂ SO4 cloud layer will disappear due to the strong radiation of the Sun.

However, data collected from the " Venus Express " probe of the European Aeronautics Agency conducted in 2008 discovered the existence of SO2 gas layer at a height of 90-110km compared to Venus . This makes many experts unexplainable.

According to the scientists' decoding, in the H ₂ SO4 cloud of Venus's atmosphere, a H ₂ SO ₄ component evaporated and " ran " to the higher atmosphere. In this higher atmosphere, H ₂ SO ₄ will differentiate under the action of solar radiation, and thereby release SO ₂ .

The " Venus Express " probe was launched into space in November 2005 to carry out the mission of exploring Venus's atmosphere, ion environment and interaction with the solar wind.