The planet Venus is entirely shrouded by clouds between the altitudes of about 50 km to about 70 km. Above and below these altitudes, there is evidence for further collections of clouds and aerosols. The ubiquity and contrast variation in these clouds are sufficient to provide information about the behavior of the horizontal winds and their variability in time and space. However, as on Earth, the clouds and aerosols play a key role in the energy balance of the atmosphere, and participate in a number of feedbacks that can both drive and be driven by the atmospheric motions. For example, the clouds reflect more than 75% of the incoming solar radiation; and they co-exist with an unknown absorber of ultraviolet radiation that is responsible for the absorption of nearly half of all the remaining sunlight deposited at the planet. Dr. McGouldrick will discuss some of the knowns and unknowns regarding the planet Venus with regard to clouds and aerosols and their effect on the atmosphere, with particular attention on some of the findings of the recent Akatsuki mission led by the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency.
Guest speaker Dr. Kevin McGouldrick is a planetary atmospheric scientist and the Planetary Department Assistant to the Associate Director for Science at the Laboratory for Atmospheric and Space Physics (LASP) at the University of Colorado Boulder. He studies the atmosphere and clouds of planets in our Solar System, with special focus on Venus. His interest in Astronomy originated with a love of stargazing that dates to before his earliest memories; and a growing interest in Meteorology fed by hours of watching 1980's-era Weather Channel led him to explore ways of combining these two loves. He earned degrees in Physics and Astronomy at Penn State when it became logistically impossible to achieve his goal of a dual Major in Meteorology and Astronomy. He earned his PhD working with Dr. Brian Toon at the University of Colorado Boulder in Astrophysical, Planetary, and Atmospheric Science. He then spent three years doing science research and outreach as a postdoc with Dr. David Grinspoon at the Denver Museum of Nature & Science before returning to the LASP and CU Boulder. He is a Participating Scientist with JAXA's Akatsuki mission to Venus, and spent three years in Residence in Japan, working with the core team.
Cosmic Conversations is presented by the Standley Lake Library and Standley Lake Stargazing. Throughout the summer, Cosmic Conversations cover a wide range of topics related to spaceflight and astronomy. Additionally Standley Lake Stargazing independently hosts live-streamed educational programs Thursdays throughout the year. Send an email to
Y29udGFjdCB8IHN0YW5kbGV5bGFrZXN0YXJnYXppbmcgISBjb20= if you’d like to join the mailing list and receive notifications about our weekly programs.
Two ways to join:
1) In-person at the Standley Lake Library
8485 Kipling St
Arvada CO 80005
Phone: (303) 235-5275
2) Virtually via Zoom, launch the meeting with this link:
https://us06web.zoom.us/j/98762823840?pwd=NWJ0Y3FMTnVZRGRxMmRZcHRkU2V5dz09
Families welcome. Hosted by Standley Lake Stargazing and Standley Lake Library
Send questions to
Q29udGFjdCB8IFN0YW5kbGV5TGFrZVN0YXJnYXppbmcgISBjb20=
Learn more at www.StandleyLakeStargazing.com/programs
Visit the library at jeffcolibrary.org/locations/SL/
Also check out other Meetups in Arvada, Nonprofit events in Arvada, Virtual events in Arvada.
