Planetary Configurations ETSU行星配置法.pptVIP

Phases of Venus Share Question How much more solar energy does Venus receive than the Earth, due to the fact that Venus is 0.72 times as far from the Sun? a) 0.72 times as much b) 1/0.72 = 1.4 times as much c) 0.72 (squared) = 0.52 times as much d) (1/0.72) (squared) = 1.92 times as much Views of Venus Transit of Sun by Venus Rotation Axis of Venus A Day at Venus (Abridged) Exploration of Venus 12/62 Mariner 2 (US) 10/67 Venera 2 (Sov) – 1st surface contact 10/75 Venera 9 and 20 (Sov) – 1st surface photos 1990-92 Magellan (US) – global radar mapping Venera Lander Magellan Radar Mapping of Venus Atmosphere of Venus Discovered by Lomonosov (Rus.) in 1761 Venus is almost equally hot everywhere, implying efficient circulation Pole-equator Hadley cell ~360 kph westward flow at cloud level at equator (wind circuits planet in 4 days) Surprisingly fast wind for a slowly rotating planet! IR Spectra of the Terrestrials Earth/Venus Atmospheres Atmospheric Characteristics Surface pressure P ~ 90 atms Surface density r ~ 50 rE ~ 0.05 rH2O Surface temperature T ~ 720K Atm. composition CO2 Atm. scale height H ~ 16 km Cloud layer 44 km Cloud composition Sulfuric acid Reflected sunlight ~ 80% Sunlight at surface ~ 2.5% Temperature Profile of Venus Greenhouse Effect (Carl Sagan, 1962) Selective Absorption: CO2 absorbs IR better than visible light Sun emits mostly at 0.5 microns, but planet surfaces glow mostly around 3-30 microns Suggests there is more energy getting in than out! Radiative Equilibrium: (RE) RE demands that energy in and out must balance! The trapped (blanketed) energy heats up surface, which becomes brighter. Continues until the fraction escaping from below equals the total getting in from above. The Greenhouse Effect Surface Properties Mostly rolling volcanic plains of basaltic rock No active volcanoes observed, but Young surface Many volcanoes, mostly of shield type Fluctuating SO2 levels Few impact craters Volcanic resurfacing has been important!