01-054

Planetary Atmospheres

Cover Page/Proposal Summary

ROSS-00    NRA 00-OSS-01

Date Due: 4/28/2000

NASA PROCEDURE FOR HANDLING PROPOSALS

This proposal shall be used and disclosed for evaluation purposes only, and a copy of this Government notice shall be applied to any reproduction or abstract thereof. Any authorized restrictive notices that the submitter places on this proposal shall also be strictly complied with. Disclosure of this proposal for any reason outside the Government evaluation purposes shall be made only to the extent authorized by the Government.

Proposal Type: New Proposal

Proposal Category: Atmosphere Structures and Particles

Major Equipment Proposal? No

Do you intend to submit an Education/Public Outreach (E/PO) proposal? No

Proposal Title:
The present chemistry and chemical evolution of the Venus atmosphere

Abbreviated Proposal Title:
Chemistry and evolution of the Venus atmosphere

Principal Investigator:
Dr. Franklin Mills
Atmospheric Chemistry Element Earth and Space Sciences Division Mail Stop 183-901
Jet Propulsion Laboratory
California Institute of Technology
4800 Oak Grove Drive
Pasadena, CA 91109-8099
Phone: 818-354-7983   Fax: 818-354-5148   E-mail: franklin.p.mills@jpl.nasa.gov

SignatureDate
_________________________________________________

Co-Investigators and Collaborators:
Type    Name    Affiliation    E-mail
Sci Collab   Dr. Mark A. Allen   Jet Propulsion Laboratory   maa@mercu1.gps.caltech.edu
Sci Collab   Dr. David Crisp   Jet Propulsion Laboratory   David.Crisp@jpl.nasa.gov
Sci Collab   Dr. John Trauger   Jet Propulsion Laboratory   John.T.Trauger@jpl.nasa.gov


Proposal Summary:

This proposal addresses two key unresolved issues from previous studies of terrestrial planetary atmospheres: what processes control the present composition of the Venus atmosphere and how did it evolve to its present state. The proposed study of the Venus atmosphere will complement and balance ongoing analyses of the Martian atmosphere to permit a more realistic evaluation of the different evolutionary paths these planets have undergone. Despite some similarities between the Venus middle atmosphere and that of the Earth's, a key prediction from earlier global photochemical models for Venus disagreed with observations by an order of magnitude. However, preliminary work has shown that predictions from an updated global average Venus photochemistry model can agree with existing observations, if key parameters are adjusted within their assessed uncertainties. The objectives of the proposed work are (1) to develop a photochemical model of the Venus middle atmosphere that quantitatively agrees with all existing observations, (2) to extend this photochemical model down into the troposphere to examine for the first time the coupled sulfur and chlorine chemistry in both regions in an internally self-consistent manner, and (3) to determine what chemical feedback processes are important for modeling the recent past evolution of the Venus atmosphere. A Monte Carlo sensitivity analysis will quantify the range of possible solutions that is permitted by the existing laboratory chemical data and identify what laboratory measurements are most critical for estimating Venus' past evolution. The proposed research will clarify the dominant chemical cycles in the present and past Venus atmospheres. The improved understanding of fundamental photochemical processes from this study is critical for assessing the differences that occurred in the evolution of Venus, the Earth, and Mars. The results also will be important for simulating and studying extrasolar terrestrial planets.



Certification of Compliance with Applicable Executive Orders and U.S. Code


By submitting the proposal identified in this Cover Sheet/Proposal Summary in response to this NRA or AO, the Authorizing Official of the proposing institution (or the individual proposer if there is no proposing institution) as identified below:

  • certifies that the statements made in this proposal are true and complete to the best of his/her knowledge;
  • agrees to accept the obligations to comply with NASA award terms and conditions if an award is made as a result of this proposal; and
  • confirms compliance with all provisions, rules, and stipulations set forth in the three Certifications contained in this NRA [namely, (i) Certification Regarding Debarment, Suspension, and Other Responsibility Matters Primary Cover Transactions, (ii) Certification Regarding Lobbying, and (iii) Certification of Compliance with the NASA Regulations Pursuant to Nondiscrimination in Federally Assisted Programs].
    Willful provision of false information in this proposal and/or its supporting documents, or in reports required under an ensuing award, is a criminal offense (U.S. Code, Title 18, Section 1001).