Survival of Sulfuric Acid Clouds in the Terrestrial Planet Climate: From Earth to Venus to Exoplanets

ongoing

"Sulfuric acid clouds (SAD) play an important role in the Venus, Earth and potentially exoplanet climates. However, a systematic understanding of SAD's life cycle within terrestrial planetary evolution is still lacking. Here I propose a project that aims to understand the emergence, sustainability and extinction of SAD in the climate evolution of terrestrial planets (Objective 1), and evaluate the SAD radiative, cloud-physics and chemical feedbacks on the planetary climate evolution in a geological timescale (Objective 2). I will combine my expertise in clouds and chemistry with the supervisor's expertise in radiative transfer and exoplanet atmospheres to construct the first 1D state-of-the-art geochemistry-climate evolution model with a complete sulfur cycle included. First, I will use the model to determine the planetary environments required for SAD to emerge and exist for a long term, and to investigate the long-standing question of why Earth and Venus evolved in a divergent way. Then, I will use my new model to resolve and study the radiative, cloud-physics and chemical feedbacks of SAD on planetary climates, and investigate whether SAD's lifetime is also affected by these feedbacks. Finally, I will apply my model to exoplanets observed by the “Hot Rocks"" JWST survey to explore the possibility of SAD's existence on terrestrial exoplanets. I will accomplish the objectives and contribute with broad, long-term impacts to both the Venus and Exoplanet communities, considering that three upcoming Venus missions, JWST and other space telescopes are or will be providing more observations of terrestrial planets. Through the MSCA programme, I will also establish my leadership in the interdisciplinary research community and transition from an independent researcher to a group leader, which will support my long-term goal of obtaining a permanent academic position. The host institution will also benefit from my expertise, networking and involvement in mentoring and outreach."