Sulfur on Venus: Atmospheric, Surface, and Interior Processes

Abstract

Sulfur-bearing species play crucial roles in atmospheric physical-chemical processes, atmosphere-surface interactions, and the geological evolution of Venus. This chapter provides a comprehensive overview of (1) instrumental data on the abundance and speciation of sulfur in atmospheric and crustal materials, (2) the behavior of sulfur-bearing species in the mesosphere, clouds, and lower atmosphere, (3) chemical and mineralogical aspects of atmosphere-surface interactions, and (4) the fate of sulfur during the formation, differentiation, and geological evolution of Venus, including volcanic degassing, gas-solid reactions at the surface, a proposed aqueous period, and subsequent evolution. The chapter also outlines key questions and discusses further exploration of Venus in the context of sulfur-relevant investigations.