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Estimation of the rate of volcanism on Venus from reaction rate measurements

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Abstract

Maintenance of the global H2SO4 clouds on Venus requires volcanism to replenish SO2, which is continually removed from the atmosphere by reaction with calcium minerals on the planet's surface1–4. Here we present laboratory rate data for the reaction between SO2 and calcite (CaCO3) to form anhydrite (CaSO4). If this reaction rate represents the SO2 reaction rate on Venus, then all SO2 in the venusian atmosphere (and thus the clouds) will disappear in 1.9 Myr unless volcanism replenishes the lost SO2. The required volcanism rate, which depends on the sulphur content of the erupted material, is in the range 0.4–11 km3 of magma erupted per year. The Venus surface composition at the Venera 13, 14 and Vega 2 landing sites5,6implies a volcanism rate of approximately 1 km3 yr−1. This geochemically estimated rate can be used to determine if either (or neither) of two discordant geophysically estimated rates (2 km3 yr−1 versus 200–300 km3 yr−1)7–9 is correct. It also suggests that Venus may be less volcanically active than the Earth.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Earth, Atmospheric and Planetary Sciences, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, Massachusetts, 02139, USA

    Bruce Fegley Jr & Ronald G. Prinn

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  1. Bruce Fegley Jr
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  2. Ronald G. Prinn
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Fegley, B., Prinn, R. Estimation of the rate of volcanism on Venus from reaction rate measurements. Nature 337, 55–58 (1989). https://doi.org/10.1038/337055a0

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