Atmospheric chemistry on Venus, Earth, and Mars: Main features and comparison

Abstract

This paper deals with two common problems and then considers major aspects of chemistry in the atmospheres of Mars and Venus. (1) The atmospheres of the terrestrial planets have similar origins but different evolutionary pathways because of the different masses and distances to the Sun. Venus lost its water by hydrodynamic escape, Earth lost CO 2 that formed carbonates and is strongly affected by life, Mars lost water in the reaction with iron and then most of the atmosphere by the intense meteorite impacts. (2) In spite of the higher solar radiation on Venus, its thermospheric temperatures are similar to those on Mars because of the greater gravity acceleration and the higher production of O by photolysis of CO 2. O stimulates cooling by the emission at 15 μm in the collisions with CO 2. (3) There is a great progress in the observations of photochemical tracers and minor constituents on Mars in the current decade. This progress is supported by progress in photochemical modeling, especially by photochemical GCMs. Main results in these areas are briefly discussed. The problem of methane presents the controversial aspects of its variations and origin. The reported variations of methane cannot be explained by the existing data on gas-phase and heterogeneous chemistry. The lack of current volcanism, SO 2, and warm spots on Mars favor the biological origin of methane. (4) Venus’ chemistry is rich and covers a wide range of temperatures and pressures and many species. Photochemical models for the middle atmosphere (58–112 km), for the nighttime atmosphere and night airglow at 80–130 km, and the kinetic model for the lower atmosphere are briefly discussed.