The energetics of the ionosphere of Venus - A preliminary model based on Pioneer Venus observations

Details The energetics of the ionosphere of Venus - A preliminary model based on Pioneer Venus observations The energetics of the ionosphere of Venus - A preliminary model based on Pioneer Venus observations

May 1979

adsabs.harvard.edu/cgi-bin/nph-data_query?bibcode=1979georl...6..341c&link_type=abstract

Geophysical Research Letters, vol. 6, May 1979, p. 341-344.

Astronomy and Astrophysics

Astronomy

4

Astronomical Models, Atmospheric Heat Budget, Atmospheric Models, Planetary Ionospheres, Venus Atmosphere, Graphs (Charts), Magnetic Flux, Pioneer Venus 1 Spacecraft, Thermal Conductivity, Dayside, Ionosphere, Venus, Models, Pioneer Venus, Observations, Energy, Electrons, Ions, Temperatures, Magnetic Fields, Thermal Conductivity, Heat Flow

Scientific paper

A model of the energy balance of the dayside ionosphere of Venus is presented. The coupled energy equations for electrons and ions are solved numerically and the calculated temperatures are compared with temperatures measured by instruments on the Pioneer Venus Orbiter. Neutral and ion density profiles consistent with those measured by various Pioneer Venus experiments are used in the model. It was found that using standard EUV sources and thermal conductivities the calculations produce temperatures that are much lower than the measured ones. Consequently, further calculations were performed in which (1) the thermal conductivities were inhibited by means of an almost horizontal magnetic field and/or (2) heat inflow into both the electron and ion gas at the top of the ionosphere was assumed due to the solar wind interaction. It was found that the calculated and measured temperatures were in reasonably good agreement if the thermal conductivities were inhibited by a near horizontal field of about 10 gammas and if the electron and ion heat fluxes were taken to be 4 x 10 to the 9th eV/sq cm/sec and 10 to the 7th eV/sq cm/sec, respectively.

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