A Recharge Oscillator Model for Interannual Variability in Venus’ Clouds

Kopparla, Pushkar; Seshadri, Ashwin; Imamura, Takeshi; Lee, Yeon Joo (2020). A Recharge Oscillator Model for Interannual Variability in Venus’ Clouds. Journal of Geophysical Research: Planets, 125(11) Wiley 10.1029/2020JE006568

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Sulfur dioxide is a radiatively and chemically important trace gas in the atmosphere of Venus and its abundance at the cloud tops has been observed to vary on interannual to decadal timescales. This variability is thought to come from changes in the strength of convection which transports sulfur dioxide to the cloud tops, although the dynamics behind such convective variability are unknown. Here, we propose a new conceptual model for convective variability that links the radiative effects of water abundance at the cloud‐base to convective strength within the clouds, which in turn affects water transport within the cloud. The model consists of two coupled equations which are identified as a recharge‐discharge oscillator. The solutions of the coupled equations are finite amplitude sustained oscillations in convective strength and cloud‐base water abundance on 3–9 years timescales. The characteristic oscillation timescale is given by the geometric mean of the radiative cooling time and the eddy mixing time near the base of the convective clouds.

Item Type:

Journal Article (Original Article)

Division/Institute:

08 Faculty of Science > Physics Institute > Space Research and Planetary Sciences
08 Faculty of Science > Physics Institute
10 Strategic Research Centers > Center for Space and Habitability (CSH)
08 Faculty of Science > Physics Institute > NCCR PlanetS

UniBE Contributor:

Kopparla, Pushkar

Subjects:

500 Science
500 Science > 520 Astronomy
500 Science > 530 Physics

ISSN:

2169-9097

Publisher:

Wiley

Language:

English

Submitter:

Danielle Zemp

Date Deposited:

15 Apr 2021 11:16

Last Modified:

05 Dec 2022 15:50

Publisher DOI:

10.1029/2020JE006568

BORIS DOI:

10.48350/154799

URI:

https://boris.unibe.ch/id/eprint/154799

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