Gaseous infrared absorption in the lower atmosphere of Venus

Possibly important sources of infrared opacity in the Venusian atmosphere was identified. It is shown that which is the major atmospheric constituent comprising about 97 percent of the atmosphere, is the dominant infrared opacity source. Not shown is N2 which comprises about 3 percent of the atmosphere. The mixing ratio of water vapor varies considerably with altitude but falls in the range of about 20 to 200 parts per million (ppm). The mixing ratio of SO2 falls in the range of 100-200 ppm. This number is about 5000 times larger than estimates obtained earlier via Earth-based observations. The abundance of some of the other minor constituents is also shown.