Development of a new cloud model for Venus (MAD-VenLA) using the Modal Aerosol Dynamics approach

Anni Määttänen (1) , Sabrina Guilbon (1) , Jérémie Burgalat (2) , Franck Montmessin (1)

1 PLANETO - LATMOS
2 GSMA - Groupe de spectrométrie moléculaire et atmosphérique

For decades, clouds have remained a central open question in understanding the climate system of Venus. We have developed a new microphysical model for the clouds of Venus that we describe in this paper. The model is a modal aerosol dynamical model that treats the formation and evolution of sulfuric acid solution droplets with a moderate computational cost. To this end, the microphysical equations are derived to describe the evolution of the size distribution of the particles using the moments of the distribution. We describe the derivation of the equations and their implementation in the model. We tested each microphysical process of the model separately in conditions of the Venus’ atmosphere and show that the model behaves in a physically sound manner in the tested cases. The model will be coupled in the future with a Venus Global Climate Model and used for elucidating the remaining mysteries.

Mots clés: Venus clouds; Microphysical modeling; Sulfuric acid aerosols

Domaines: Planète et Univers [physics]; Planétologie et astrophysique de la terre [astro-ph.EP]; Planétologie

Anni Määttänen, Sabrina Guilbon, Jérémie Burgalat, Franck Montmessin. Development of a new cloud model for Venus (MAD-VenLA) using the Modal Aerosol Dynamics approach. Advances in Space Research, 2023, 71 (1), pp.1116-1136. ⟨10.1016/j.asr.2022.09.063⟩. ⟨hal-03821124⟩