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Science 24 September 1982:
Vol. 217. no. 4566, pp. 1209 - 1213
DOI: 10.1126/science.217.4566.1209
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Articles

Catalytic Processes in the Atmospheres of Earth and Venus

W. B. DeMore 1 and Yuk L. Yung 2

1 Senior research scientist in the Molecular Physics and Chemistry Section, Jet Propulsin Laboratory, Pasadena, California 91109
2 Assistant professor in the Division of Geological and Planetary Science, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena 91125

Photochemical processes in planetary atmospheres are strongly influenced by catalytic effects of minor constituents. Catalytic cycles in the atmospheres of Earth and Venus are closely related. For example, chlorine oxides (CIOx) act as catalysts in the two atmospheres. On Earth, they serve to convert odd oxygen (atomic oxygen and ozone) to molecular oxygen. On Venus they have a similar effect, but in addition they accelerate the reactions of atomic and molecular oxygen with carbon monoxide. The latter process occurs by a unique combination of CIOx catalysis and sulfur dioxide photosensitization. The mechanism provides an explanation for the very low extent of carbon dioxide decomposition by sunlight in the Venus atmosphere.


THIS ARTICLE HAS BEEN CITED BY OTHER ARTICLES:
Laboratory evidence for a key intermediate in the Venus atmosphere: Peroxychloroformyl radical.
H. Pernice, P. Garcia, H. Willner, J. S. Francisco, F. P. Mills, M. Allen, and Y. L. Yung (2004)
PNAS 101, 14007-14010
   Abstract »    Full Text »    PDF »
Sulfur Dioxide: Episodic Injection Shows Evidence for Active Venus Volcanism.
L. W. Esposito and L. W. ESPOSITO (1984)
Science 223, 1072-1074
   Abstract »    PDF »


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