Universität zu Köln

Oschlisniok, J., Haeusler, B., Paetzold, M., Tyler, G. L., Bird, M. K., Tellmann, S., Remus, S. and Andert, T. (2012). Microwave absorptivity by sulfuric acid in the Venus atmosphere: First results from the Venus Express Radio Science experiment VeRa. Icarus, 221 (2). S. 940 - 949. SAN DIEGO: ACADEMIC PRESS INC ELSEVIER SCIENCE. ISSN 1090-2643

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Abstract

The Venus Express (VEX) Radio Science experiment VeRa utilizes radio occultation techniques to investigate the Venus atmosphere over a wide range of latitudes. Radio attenuation measurements with the VEX 3.6 cm (X-band) signal provide information on the absorptivity distribution within the Venus cloud deck. The combined results from 6 years of occultation measurements reveal a distinct latitudinal variation in absorptivity in the altitude range from 50 to 55 km. Enhanced absorptivity is observed at equatorial and mid-latitudes (0-50 degrees S), exceeding 0.008 dB/km on the dayside and 0.01 dB/km on the nightside of the southern hemisphere. Poleward of 50 degrees S latitude a decrease in the absorptivity is observed, reaching minimal values at polar latitudes (>70 degrees S), where the absorptivity did not exceed 0.005 dB/km on the dayside and 0.004 dB/km on the nightside. The main absorber of radio waves in the Venus atmosphere, gaseous sulfuric acid, can serve as a tracer for atmospheric motions. The inferred absorptivity was used to determine the abundance of gaseous sulfuric acid. Abundances of about 1-2 ppm are found between 0 degrees S and 70 degrees S latitude in the altitude range from 50 to about 52 km, sometimes increasing to values of about 3 ppm on the dayside and 5 ppm on the nightside near 50 km. The abundance at polar latitudes (>70 degrees S) did not exceed 1 ppm within the considered altitude range. The absorptivity and gaseous sulfuric acid height profiles are compared with previous measurements. (C) 2012 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Item Type:	Journal Article
Creators:	Creators Email ORCID ORCID Put Code Oschlisniok, J. UNSPECIFIED UNSPECIFIED UNSPECIFIED Haeusler, B. UNSPECIFIED UNSPECIFIED UNSPECIFIED Paetzold, M. UNSPECIFIED UNSPECIFIED UNSPECIFIED Tyler, G. L. UNSPECIFIED UNSPECIFIED UNSPECIFIED Bird, M. K. UNSPECIFIED UNSPECIFIED UNSPECIFIED Tellmann, S. UNSPECIFIED UNSPECIFIED UNSPECIFIED Remus, S. UNSPECIFIED UNSPECIFIED UNSPECIFIED Andert, T. UNSPECIFIED UNSPECIFIED UNSPECIFIED
URN:	urn:nbn:de:hbz:38-479317
DOI:	10.1016/j.icarus.2012.09.029
Journal or Publication Title:	Icarus
Volume:	221
Number:	2
Page Range:	S. 940 - 949
Date:	2012
Publisher:	ACADEMIC PRESS INC ELSEVIER SCIENCE
Place of Publication:	SAN DIEGO
ISSN:	1090-2643
Language:	English
Faculty:	Unspecified
Divisions:	Unspecified
Subjects:	no entry
Uncontrolled Keywords:	Keywords Language CLOUD-RELATED GASES; OCCULTATION MEASUREMENTS; MIDDLE ATMOSPHERE; LABORATORY MEASUREMENTS; SIMULATED CONDITIONS; MAGELLAN SPACECRAFT; DIOXIDE SO2; PROFILES; MARINER-10; TURBULENCE Multiple languages Astronomy & Astrophysics Multiple languages
URI:	http://kups.ub.uni-koeln.de/id/eprint/47931