💥 Missions to Venus: after temperature, the other threat to consider

The winds on the planet Venus, measured at about 2.2 mph (1 m/s) by the Venera probes, appear modest compared to those on Earth or Mars. However, the planet's dense atmosphere considerably amplifies their effects. Regarding temperatures, in the tropics, the daytime upslope and nighttime downslope winds along mountain slopes limit temperature differences to less than 1 Kelvin during the day, compared to 4 Kelvin in the plains.

Near the poles, the predominant downslope winds counteract the permanent cooling, also stabilizing local conditions. This dynamic specific to each zone is crucial for lander missions targeting these regions, such as EnVision. According to simulations, winds directly shape temperature but also dust movement, giving each sector its unique characteristics.


Dust transport constitutes a major concern. In Alpha Regio, a mountainous plateau where the DAVINCI mission is scheduled to land, 45% of the surface experiences winds strong enough to move fine 75-µm sand (about 0.003 inches). The lander could thus face particle storms, whose strength fluctuates throughout the day, requiring a sufficiently robust design to withstand them.

To obtain these results, the team chose a regional approach, segmenting Venus into distinct zones to simulate local meteorology. This method, presented in the Journal of Geophysical Research: Planets, allows for more accurate modeling than global models, as it incorporates the disparities between highlands, lowlands, tropics, and poles.

Upcoming missions will benefit from these advances to plan their operations with greater precision. By deciphering how winds balance certain zones and mobilize dust in others, scientists can select landing sites and design instruments accordingly, thereby improving the probability of success in this extremely hostile environment.