Search Publications

Dependence of O⁺ escape rate from the Venusian upper atmosphere on IMF directions

Fedorov, A.; Barabash, S.; Futaana, Y. +5 more

investigate the dependence of the O⁺ escape rate on the upstream interplanetary magnetic field (IMF) direction by using data from the Analyser of Space Plasma and Energetic Atoms (ASPERA-4) instrument and the magnetometer (MAG) onboard Venus Express. We consider two cases, namely the perpendicular IMF case (167 events) and the parallel …

A large-scale flow vortex in the Venus plasma tail and its fluid dynamic interpretation

Barabash, S.; Lundin, R.; Futaana, Y. +3 more

We report on the existence of a large-scale ion flow vortex, a curled tailward flow of solar wind H⁺ (SW H⁺), and ionospheric O⁺ in the Venus plasma tail. The vortex commences at dusk (-Y), driven by a transverse (to the solar wind) aberration flow component. Dusk magnetosheath and ionospheric ions move westward ac…

Limb imaging of the Venus O₂ visible nightglow with the Venus Monitoring Camera

Hueso, R.; Witasse, O.; Opitz, A. +4 more

investigated the Venus O₂ visible nightglow with imagery from the Venus Monitoring Camera on Venus Express. Drawing from data collected between April 2007 and January 2011, we study the global distribution of this emission, discovered in the late 1970s by the Venera 9 and 10 missions. The inferred limb-viewing intensities are on the ord…

Electromagnetic waves observed on a flight over a Venus electrical storm

Russell, C. T.; Zhang, T. L.; Daniels, J. T. M. +3 more

The occurrence of electrical discharges in planetary atmospheres produces high temperatures and pressures enabling chemical reactions that are not possible under local thermodynamic equilibrium conditions. On Earth, electrical discharges in clouds produce nitric oxide. Similar abundances of nitric oxide exist in the Venus atmosphere, but the exist…