A Recharge Oscillator Model for Interannual Variability in Venus� Clouds

Kopparla, P and Seshadri, A and Imamura, T and Lee, YJ (2020) A Recharge Oscillator Model for Interannual Variability in Venus� Clouds. In: Journal of Geophysical Research: Planets, 125 (11).

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Abstract

Sulfur dioxide is a radiatively and chemically important trace gas in the atmosphere of Venus and its abundance at the cloud tops has been observed to vary on interannual to decadal timescales. This variability is thought to come from changes in the strength of convection which transports sulfur dioxide to the cloud tops, although the dynamics behind such convective variability are unknown. Here, we propose a new conceptual model for convective variability that links the radiative effects of water abundance at the cloud-base to convective strength within the clouds, which in turn affects water transport within the cloud. The model consists of two coupled equations which are identified as a recharge-discharge oscillator. The solutions of the coupled equations are finite amplitude sustained oscillations in convective strength and cloud-base water abundance on 3�9 years timescales. The characteristic oscillation timescale is given by the geometric mean of the radiative cooling time and the eddy mixing time near the base of the convective clouds. © 2020. American Geophysical Union. All Rights Reserved.

Item Type:	Journal Article
Publication:	Journal of Geophysical Research: Planets
Publisher:	Blackwell Publishing Ltd
Additional Information:	Copyright to this article belongs to Blackwell Publishing Ltd
Keywords:	annual variation; atmospheric convection; cloud cover; modeling; oscillation; planetary atmosphere; Venus
Department/Centre:	Division of Mechanical Sciences > Centre for Atmospheric & Oceanic Sciences
Date Deposited:	15 Jan 2021 09:07
Last Modified:	15 Jan 2021 09:07
URI:	http://eprints.iisc.ac.in/id/eprint/67194

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