Transport of ionospheric O/+/ ions across the Venus terminator and implications

Physics

Scientific paper

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Venus, Transport, Ionosphere, Oxygen, Ions, Velocity, Magnitude, Flux, Altitude, Ionopause, Hypotheses, Kinetic Energy, Diagrams, Nightside, Calculations, Heating, Temperature

Scientific paper

Data from the Pioneer Venus orbiter retarding potential analyzer demonstrate that the velocity of ionospheric O(+) ions in the vicinity of the terminator is directed antisunward and radially inward toward the planet in the range of 1-8 km/s. The velocity tends to increase with altitude, and may increase to still larger values just below the ionopause. The Alfven Mach number of the flow is generally greater than 1, indicating that the flow is controlled more by inertial forces than by magnetic forces. The ion Mach number is also greater than one. The flux of O(+) ions across the terminator planetwise is estimated to be equal to the integrated recombination rate of O2(+) on the night side within a factor of 2. Ion transport contributes substantially, and possibly predominantly, to the maintenance of the night side ionosphere.

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