Pioneer Venus gas chromatography of the lower atmosphere of Venus

Abstract

A gas Chromatograph mounted in the Pioneer Venus sounder probe measured the chemical composition of the atmosphere of Venus at three altitudes. Ne, N 2 , O 2 , Ar, CO, H 2 O, SO 2 , and CO 2 were measured, and upper limits set for H 2 , COS, H 2 S, CH 4 , Kr, N 2 O, C 2 H 4 , C 2 H 6 , and C 3 H 8 . Simulation studies have provided indirect evidence for sulfuric acid‐like droplets and support the possibility of water vapor at altitudes of 42 and 24 km. The paper discusses the implications of these results for the origin, evolution, and present state of Venus' atmosphere.