Other
Scientific paper
Oct 2010
adsabs.harvard.edu/cgi-bin/nph-data_query?bibcode=2010dps....42.1005b&link_type=abstract
American Astronomical Society, DPS meeting #42, #10.05; Bulletin of the American Astronomical Society, Vol. 42, p.994
Other
Scientific paper
Near-infrared spectra from the Visible and Infrared Thermal Imaging Spectrometer (VIRTIS) on Venus Express have been used to investigate the vertical structure and global distribution of cloud properties on Venus. The spectral range covered by VIRTIS is sensitive on the nightside to absorption by the lower and middle cloud layers, which are back-lit by radiation from the lower atmosphere and surface. The cloud model used to interpret the spectra is based on previous work by Pollack (1993) and others, and assumes a composition for the cloud particles of sulfuric acid and water, with acid concentration as a free parameter to be determined. Other retrieved parameters are the average size of the particles and the altitude of the cloud base in the model. The sensitivity to these variables across the measured spectral range (1.5 to 2.6 µm) is investigated, and radiances at suitable pairs of wavelengths are used in model branch plots to recover each variable independently.
Spatial variation of sulfuric acid concentration in the cloud particles has been estimated for the first time. This is then used in the determination of other cloud properties and gaseous abundances. Key findings include increased acid concentration and decreased cloud base altitude in regions of optically thick cloud, a peak in cloud base altitude at -50°, and an increased average particle size near the pole. These results are being used to develop better models of the structure and variability of the clouds, which are needed to understand the chemistry, meteorology and radiative energy balance on Venus.
This research is supported by the Science and Technology Facilities Council (UK) the Centre Nationale d'Etudes Spatiales (France), the Agenzia Spaziale Italiana and ESA.
Barstow Joanna
Drossart Pierre
Irwin Patrick G. J.
Piccioni Giuseppe
Taylor Fred W.
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