Introduction to advances in Venus science special issue

International audience; This issue of Icarus presents papers on the planet Venus based principally on presentations at two international conferences during the summer of 2010. Under the sponsorship of the European Space Agency, the International Venus Conference (Aussois, France, 20–26 June 2010) focused on the results from the Venus Express Mission. Venus Express is expected to continue operations through December 2014 and beyond. The second conference, “Venus Our Closest Earth-like Planet: From Surface to Thermosphere – How does it work?”, was sponsored by the Venus Exploration Analysis Group (VEXAG) chartered by NASA in Madison, Wisconsin (29 August–1 September, 2010). The work presented at these conferences illustrates the resurgence in Venus research since the arrival at Venus of the European Space Agency’s Venus Express orbiter in April 2006. The issue also includes papers that were inspired by JAXA’s launch of Venus Climate Orbiter (also known as Akatsuki) in May 2010.The papers reflect the international interest in Venus and cover many different aspects of the planet, ranging from interior and surface to the upper atmosphere, with many results focusing on the coupling between different layers. Papers on surface and interior process include electromagnetic sounding of the lithosphere, models of surface atmosphere-interaction, constraints on the process of resurfacing, and links between convective processes and topography and between convection and resurfacing and outgassing. The issue contains 39 papers. Additional papers will be published in later regular issues of the Journal.The Guest Editors are pleased to acknowledge the service provided by numerous dedicated reviewers whose critical comments greatly improved the manuscripts. The Venus Express Project is supported not only by the European Space Agency directly but also by many other countries through support of the respective instrument teams and National Space Agencies. VEXAG is chartered by the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (www.lpi.usra.edu/vexag). We would like to thank Dr. Adriana Ocampo (NASA/HQ) for her consistent interest and support of VEXAG activities and Dr. Håkan Svedhem, Venus Express project Scientist for his support for the two conferences. Without the support of the Icarus Editorial Office (particularly Ms. Cheryl Hall) the Guest Editors would have had a formidable challenge in producing this issue on time.