Colin Wilson

Abstract:

The European Venus Explorer (EVE) mission was proposed to the European Space Agency in 2007, as an M-class mission under the Cosmic Vision Programme. Although it has not been chosen in the 2007 selection round for programmatic reasons, the EVE mission may serve as a useful reference point for future missions, so it is described here. It consists of one balloon platform floating at an altitude of 50-60 km, one descent probe provided by Russia, and an orbiter with a polar orbit which will relay data from the balloon and descent probe, and perform science observations. The balloon type preferred for scientific goals is one which oscillates in altitude through the cloud deck. To achieve this flight profile, the balloon envelope contains a phase change fluid, which results in a flight profile which oscillates in height. The nominal balloon lifetime is 7 days-enough for one full circumnavigation of the planet. The descent probe's fall through the atmosphere takes 60 min, followed by 30 min of operation on the surface. The key measurement objectives of EVE are: (1) in situ measurement from the balloon of noble gas abundances and stable isotope ratios, to study the record of the evolution of Venus; (2) in situ balloon-borne measurement of cloud particle and gas composition, and their spatial variation, to understand the complex cloud-level chemistry; (3) in situ measurements of environmental parameters and winds (from tracking of the balloon) for one rotation around the planet, to understand atmospheric dynamics and radiative balance in this crucial region. The portfolio of key measurements is complemented by the Russian descent probe, which enables the investigation of the deep atmosphere and surface. © Springer Science+Business Media B.V. 2008.

Abstract:

[1] Observations of Venus' mesosphere by the Visible and Infrared Thermal Imaging Spectrometer (VIRTIS)-M instrument of Venus Express have been used to investigate the spatial distribution of CO above Venus' nightside cloud tops by fitting the CO absorption in the (1-0) CO band around 4.7 μm. We find little spatial variation in the abundance of CO at midlatitudes, with a retrieved abundance of approximately 40 ± 10 ppm just above the cloud tops between 65 and 70 km altitude. Unfortunately, we find it very difficult to constrain the abundance of CO in the cold polar collar, centered at about 70°S, as the retrieved temperature structure in the CO line-forming region masks the absorption lines. However, there is a possibility that CO increases toward the poles, as we detect a significant signature of high levels of CO over Venus' south polar dipole feature in all the observations analyzed so far. To constrain the abundance of CO more closely will require the analysis of higher-resolution VIRTIS-H observations. In addition, limb observations would greatly help to resolve any possible temperature/cloud ambiguities and allow us to assess vertical variations in the abundance of CO. Copyright 2008 by the American Geophysical Union.

Abstract:

[1] We present nightside observations of tropospheric carbon monoxide in the southern hemisphere near the 35 km height level, the first from Venus Express/Visible and Infrared Thermal Imaging Spectrometer (VIRTIS)-M-IR. VIRTIS-M data from 2.18 to 2.50 μm, with a spectral resolution of 10 nm, were used in the analysis. Spectra were binned, with widths ranging from 5 to 30 spatial pixels, to increase the signal-to-noise ratio, while at the same time reducing the total number of retrievals required for complete spatial coverage. We calculate the mean abundance for carbon monoxide at the equator to be 23 ± 2 ppm. The CO concentration increases toward the poles, peaking at a latitude of approximately 60°S, with a mean value of 32 ± 2 ppm. This 40% equator-to-pole increase is consistent with the values found by Collard et al. (1993) from Galileo/NIMS observations. Observations suggest an overturning in this CO gradient past 60°S, declining to abundances seen in the midlatitudes. Zonal variability in this peak value has also been measured, varying on the order of 10% (∼3 ppm) at different longitudes on a latitude circle. The zonal variability of the CO abundance has possible implications for the lifetime of CO and its dynamics in the troposphere. This work has definitively established a distribution of tropospheric CO, which is consistent with a Hadley cell circulation, and placed limits on the latitudinal extent of the cell. Copyright 2008 by the American Geophysical Union.

Abstract:

Venus is the most Earthlike planet we know besides our own, in terms of its size and distance from its parent star. It was probably formed from the same materials as the Earth and Mars, at a similar time - why then has it become so different?To address this key question, a team of 170+ scientists from around the world formulated the European Venus Explorer (EVE) mission proposal to the European Space Agency's Cosmic Vision Programme in 2007. Although it was not chosen in the 2007 selection round for programmatic reasons, it was rated a high priority for the future European Space Science so we take this opportunity to reiterate the science goals which motivated the EVE mission, and to discuss the status of technological and programmatic developments required to address these goals.