Sulfur trioxide in the lower atmosphere of Venus

Inconsistencies and ambiguities are noted by the present consideration of Pioneer Venus and Venera atmospheric composition measurement of Venus in the context of lower atmosphere thermodynamic equilibrium. Among the scenarios projected on the basis of assumed correctness for selected data subsets, the O2 and SO2 concentrations reported by the Pioneer Venus chromatograph and the H2O concentrations reported by Venera 11 suggest that large concentrations of SO3 are present in the lower atmosphere of Venus. Such SO3 concentrations lead, however, to difficulties in explaining the atmosphere at and above the cloud tops, and in addition require specific assumptions concerning chemical reaction rates at and near the surface.