About this Research Topic

Background

Heterogeneous reactivity on solid surfaces, and exchanges with the surface, can take a huge importance in planetary atmospheres. Reactivity at the surface of dust and ice possibly leads to the formation or dictates the budget of key species, such as methane on Mars, phosphine on Venus, etc. Ultimately, these reactions may participate in the formation of key organic species for life to develop, and therefore need to be investigated under relevant conditions with experiments and simulations. The context of the space missions currently operating (Curiosity and Perseverance rovers, TGO orbiting Mars,…) or scheduled in the future (VERITAS, EnVision, DAVINCI+ to study Venus, ExoMars on Mars, JWST, OST, HabEx, LUVOIR, ARIEL to observe exoplanets and their atmospheres) is very favorable for such works, and to give a new impulse to the field.

This Topic aims at encouraging theoretical and experimental studies of heterogeneous processes on solid surface in planetary atmospheres, and of surface-atmosphere exchanges, with a special emphasis on Mars and Venus. A push to the study of systems like Titan, where ice and aerosols play an important role, should also be part of this effort. The broad objective is to gather studies of heterogeneous processes in planetary atmospheres, with the aim of building the structure for the systematic study of such processes in the breadth of exoplanetary atmospheres that will be observed by the next generation of space telescopes, as proposed recently [Lasne, 2021]. Experimental and theoretical studies are needed to determine mechanisms and kinetics of reactions that will be implemented in atmospheric models to give a proper account of observations. Species such as CH4, HCl and O2 on Mars, and PH3 on Venus, some of which have seen their detection hotly debated, may have their budgets explained by heterogeneous reactions. This Topic offers to provide a support for the heterogeneous reactivity, atmospheric chemistry and planetary science communities to join in order to elucidate some of the most intriguing observations of our time.

The scope of this Research Topic encompasses the experimental and theoretical study of heterogeneous reactions on solid surfaces of relevance for exoplanetary atmospheres, and studies of surface-atmosphere exchanges and chemistry. Underinvestigated physical conditions of temperature and pressure (e.g., atmospheric conditions of Venus), presence of species which reactivity is not well understood (H2SO4 on Venus, perchlorates in Mars), and surface-assisted photochemistry are particularly expected. Species of interest are, for example, but not limited to, CH4 on Mars and Titan, PH3, SO2 and CO on Venus, organic and prebiotic molecules in all planetary atmospheres. Authors are expected to highlight the relevance of their work for atmospheric chemistry of exoplanets.

This Research Topic welcomes Original Research Articles, Reviews and Mini-Reviews.

Keywords: Heterogeneous reactivity, Planetary atmosphere, Surface-atmosphere exchange, Dust, Ice, Mars, Venus, Titan, Exoplanets

Important note: All contributions to this Research Topic must be within the scope of the section and journal to which they are submitted, as defined in their mission statements. Frontiers reserves the right to guide an out-of-scope manuscript to a more suitable section or journal at any stage of peer review.

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