Development of balloon-based seismology for Venus through earth-analog experiments and simulations

Abstract

Balloon-based seismology through the study of low-frequency seismo-acoustic signals (infrasound) has gained acceptance as a viable way to study seismic activity on Venus. Balloon-based barometers have the potential to detect and characterize atmospheric waves launched by venusquakes and volcanic eruptions while offering substantially longer instrument lifetimes in the Venus middle atmosphere, where temperature and pressure are significantly more benign (0–100°C, ∼1 atm) as compared to the surface (>460 °C, ∼90 atm). One of the major challenges in performing balloon-based seismology on Venus is the absence of ground-truth data for event identification and discrimination. To address this challenge, our activities are aimed at building a catalog of terrestrial balloon-recorded infrasound signals of geophysical provenance, using which signal predictions can be extended to Venus and the detectability of events can be analyzed. We will highlight our recently concluded Balloon-based Acoustic Seismology Study (BASS) flight campaign, which served as Earth-analog experiments for Venus balloon-based seismology. Data collected were used to validate seismo-acoustic simulation tools, which are being expanded to include the Venus atmosphere. These tools will used to generate predictions of infrasound signals from geophysical events on Venus. We will also provide perspective on directions for future instrument development for Venus balloon flights.

Additional details