 |
|
New isotope molecule may add to Venus' greenhouse effect
October 11, 2007Planetary scientists on both sides of the Atlantic have tracked down a rare molecule in the atmospheres of both Mars and Venus. The molecule, an exotic form of carbon dioxide, could affect the way the greenhouse mechanism works on Venus.
The discovery is being announced today at the annual meeting of the American Astronomical Society's Division of Planetary Sciences in Orlando, Florida. Its presence could affect the way the greenhouse mechanism works on Venus. The mystery began back in April 2006, soon after ESA's Venus Express arrived at the second planet in the Solar System.
A European team including members from France, Belgium and Russia lead by Jean-Loup Bertaux, Service d'Aeronomie du CNRS, France and Ann-Carine Vandaele, Institut d'Aeronomie Spatiale de Belgique, were using their Infrared Atmospheric Spectrometer (SOIR) instrument to measure solar occultations.
To do this, the instrument watches the Sun set behind Venus, allowing the scientists to study the way specific wavelengths of light are absorbed by the planet's atmosphere. These wavelengths and the level of absorption then give away the identity and amount of gases in the atmosphere.
The team saw an unidentified signature at 3.3 micrometres in the mid-infrared region of the spectrum. "It was conspicuous and systematic, increasing with depth in the atmosphere during the occultation, so we knew it was real," says Bertaux.
The team kept their discovery confidential as they attempted to identify the molecule responsible. They thought at first that it must be an organic molecule. These molecules contain carbon and hydrogen. However, none of the known organic molecules fitted well with the observations.
Then, in December 2006, Mike Mumma of NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center, Maryland, enquired whether the SOIR team was seeing anything special on Venus at 3.3 microns. He had discovered an unidentified spectral signature at that wavelength using telescopes on Hawaii pointing at Mars. The two teams compared the absorption signatures: they were identical.
This was a big clue. Both the atmospheres of Mars and Venus are composed of 95% carbon dioxide, although Venus's atmosphere is much thicker than the one at Mars. The American team suggested that the signature could be coming from an isotope of carbon dioxide, where one oxygen atom is 'normal', with eight protons and eight neutrons, while the other has eight protons and ten neutrons. Such an isotope makes up about 1% of carbon dioxide on Earth; the rest contains two normal oxygen atoms.
However, no one had previously seen the molecule absorb at 3.3 micrometres. An investigation by three independent groups, one led by Mumma in America; Sergei Tashkun and Valery Perevalov at Tomsk State University, Russia; and Richard Dahoo at Service d'Aéronomie du CNRS, France, all came to the same conclusion. The signature could be caused by a rare transition only possible in the isotope.
The different weights of the oxygen atoms allow the molecule to alter its vibration in two ways simultaneously, whereas normal molecules can only change one state at a time.
This rare transition allows it to absorb even more energy and so contribute even more to the greenhouse effect on Venus. On Earth, however, there is 250 000 times less carbon dioxide so its additional contribution to our greenhouse effect will be small.
European Space Agency
To do this, the instrument watches the Sun set behind Venus, allowing the scientists to study the way specific wavelengths of light are absorbed by the planet's atmosphere. These wavelengths and the level of absorption then give away the identity and amount of gases in the atmosphere.
The team saw an unidentified signature at 3.3 micrometres in the mid-infrared region of the spectrum. "It was conspicuous and systematic, increasing with depth in the atmosphere during the occultation, so we knew it was real," says Bertaux.
The team kept their discovery confidential as they attempted to identify the molecule responsible. They thought at first that it must be an organic molecule. These molecules contain carbon and hydrogen. However, none of the known organic molecules fitted well with the observations.
Then, in December 2006, Mike Mumma of NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center, Maryland, enquired whether the SOIR team was seeing anything special on Venus at 3.3 microns. He had discovered an unidentified spectral signature at that wavelength using telescopes on Hawaii pointing at Mars. The two teams compared the absorption signatures: they were identical.
This was a big clue. Both the atmospheres of Mars and Venus are composed of 95% carbon dioxide, although Venus's atmosphere is much thicker than the one at Mars. The American team suggested that the signature could be coming from an isotope of carbon dioxide, where one oxygen atom is 'normal', with eight protons and eight neutrons, while the other has eight protons and ten neutrons. Such an isotope makes up about 1% of carbon dioxide on Earth; the rest contains two normal oxygen atoms.
However, no one had previously seen the molecule absorb at 3.3 micrometres. An investigation by three independent groups, one led by Mumma in America; Sergei Tashkun and Valery Perevalov at Tomsk State University, Russia; and Richard Dahoo at Service d'Aéronomie du CNRS, France, all came to the same conclusion. The signature could be caused by a rare transition only possible in the isotope.
The different weights of the oxygen atoms allow the molecule to alter its vibration in two ways simultaneously, whereas normal molecules can only change one state at a time.
This rare transition allows it to absorb even more energy and so contribute even more to the greenhouse effect on Venus. On Earth, however, there is 250 000 times less carbon dioxide so its additional contribution to our greenhouse effect will be small.
European Space Agency
Venus Current Events and Venus News RSSNAE announces award winners John Casani and Sheila Widnall
During its 2009 annual meeting, the National Academy of Engineering (NAE) will present two awards for extraordinary impacts on the engineering profession.
Superheavy Element 114 Confirmed: A Stepping Stone to the Island of Stability
Scientists at the U.S. Department of Energy's Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory have been able to confirm the production of the superheavy element 114, ten years after a group in Russia, at the Joint Institute for Nuclear Research in Dubna, first claimed to have made it.
First solid evidence for a rocky exoplanet
The longest set of HARPS measurements ever made has firmly established the nature of the smallest and fastest-orbiting exoplanet known, CoRoT-7b, revealing its mass as five times that of Earth's.
For carnivorous plants, slow but steady wins the race
Like the man-eating plant in Little Shop of Horrors, carnivorous plants rely on animal prey for sustenance. Fortunately for humans, carnivorous plants found in nature are not dependent on a diet of human blood but rather are satisfied with the occasional fly or other insect.
University of Hawai'i at Manoa team unravels the chemistry of Titan's hazy atmosphere
A team of University of Hawai'i at Mānoa researchers led by Ralf Kaiser, physical chemist at UH Mānoa, unraveled the chemical evolution of the orange-brownish colored atmosphere of Saturn's moon Titan, the only solar system body besides Venus and Earth with a solid surface and thick atmosphere.
Unveiling the true face of a gigantic star
An international team of astronomers, led by Keiichi Ohnaka at the Max Planck Institute for Radio Astronomy (MPIfR) in Bonn, has made the most high resolution images of a dying giant star to date.
Sharpest views of Betelgeuse reveal how supergiant stars lose mass
Using different state-of-the-art techniques on ESO's Very Large Telescope, two independent teams of astronomers have obtained the sharpest ever views of the supergiant star Betelgeuse.
New map hints at Venus's wet, volcanic past
Venus Express has charted the first map of Venus's southern hemisphere at infrared wavelengths. The new map hints that our neighbouring world may once have been more Earth-like, with both, a plate tectonics system and an ocean of water.
Galileo's notebooks may reveal secrets of new planet
Galileo knew he had discovered a new planet in 1613, 234 years before its official discovery date, according to a new theory by a University of Melbourne physicist.
Magnetic Tornadoes Could Liberate Mercury's Tenuous Atmosphere
As the closest planet to the sun, Mercury is scorching hot, with daytime temperatures of more than 800 degrees Fahrenheit (approximately 450 degrees Celsius).
More Venus Current Events and Venus News Articles
 |
Gillette Venus Shaving Cartridges for Women, 8-Count Package by Gillette Venus Shaving Cartridges for Women feature three blades surrounded by soft cushions, resulting in fewer missed hairs and a more comfortable shave. The pivoting rounded head hugs your curves and fits easily into hard-to-shave areas. The indicator strip contains skin-soothing aloe and Vitamin E, and the blue stripe fades away when it's time to change blades. Each cartridge is individually sealed in waterproof packaging, making it easy to store in the shower. |
 |
Gillette Venus Embrace Cartridge, 8-Count Package by Gillette Venus Embrace Cartridge 8 count. Venus Embrace hugs your curves to get virtually every hair; for a whole new level of smoothness. |
 |
Venus Starring: Peter O'Toole, Leslie Phillips, Beatrice Savoretti, Philip Fox, Lolita Chakrabarti Directed By: Roger Michell Academy Award® nominee Peter O’Toole (2006 Best Actor) leads a powerful cast to deliver a charming and poignant portrayal of Maurice, an aging veteran actor who becomes absolutely taken with Jessie – the grandniece of his closest friend. When Maurice tries to soften the petulant and provincial young girl with the benefit of his wisdom and London culture, their give-and-take surprises both Maurice and Jessie as they discover what they don’t know about themselves. Featuring brilliant performances from a superb supporting cast, VENUS is a witty and wise celebration of how the greatest lessons in life can come from the most unlikely places. |
 |
Gillette Venus Breeze 2 in 1 Cartridges Plus Shave Gel Bars for Women, 8 Cartridges by Gillette Triple Blades self adjust to level of Skin Conditioning Solid. All Intuition cartridges are interchangeable, but enhanced pivoting works only when Intuition Plus handle is used with Plus cartridge. |
 |
Venus by Suzan-Lori Parks (Author) |
 |
Gillette for Women Venus Divine Cartridges, 8-Count Boxes by Gillette Intensive Moisture. The closest shave for divinely smooth skin - even in sensitive spots. Three Intensive Moisture strips enriched with Natural Aloe and Botanical Oils. Three Comfort-Coated Blades for a close and comfortable shave. Pivoting Rounded Head h |
 |
Gillette Venus Embrace Razor, 1-Count Package by Gillette Irresistibly Smooth Skin Each Cartridge has 5 blades with Ribbon of Moisture. Con |
 |
Venus/the Shocking Blue Shocking Blue (Primary Contributor) |
 |
One Touch of Venus Starring: Ava Gardner, Robert Walker, Mary Benoit, Ralph Brooks, Russ Conway Also With: Franz Planer (Cinematographer), Kurt Weill (Composer) A fantasy comedy about a young window dresser (Robert Walker) who kisses a statue of Venus, which then comes to life in the form of Ava Gardner. The problems begin, however, when Venus falls in love with him... |
 |
GUESS Venus Dolman Tunic, ARGENTUM/BLUE MULTI (L) by GUESS Divine design. Long & lean tunic shirt has floral pattern with rhinestone details. Short dolman sleeves with double V-neck and back design. Ties in back. 93% Polyester, 7% Spandex Hand wash cold Women > Dresses |
| © 2009 BrightSurf.com |