Sulfur on Venus: Atmospheric, Surface, and Interior Processes

TL;DR

This paper reviews sulfur's roles in Venus's atmosphere, surface, and interior, covering data, processes, interactions, and evolution, highlighting key questions for future exploration.

Contribution

It provides a comprehensive overview of sulfur-related atmospheric, surface, and interior processes on Venus, integrating data and proposing future research directions.

Findings

Sulfur influences Venus's atmospheric chemistry and surface interactions.

Sulfur species vary across Venus's atmospheric layers and crust.

Sulfur's role in Venus's geological evolution is significant and complex.

Abstract

Sulfur-bearing species play crucial roles in atmospheric physical-chemical processes, atmosphere-surface interactions, and the geological evolution of Venus. This chapter provides a comprehensive overview of (1) instrumental data on the abundance and speciation of sulfur in atmospheric and crustal materials, (2) the behavior of sulfur-bearing species in the mesosphere, clouds, and lower atmosphere, (3) chemical and mineralogical aspects of atmosphere-surface interactions, and (4) the fate of sulfur during the formation, differentiation, and geological evolution of Venus, including volcanic degassing, gas-solid reactions at the surface, a proposed aqueous period, and subsequent evolution. The chapter also outlines key questions and discusses further exploration of Venus in the context of sulfur-relevant investigations.