Search Publications
Venus Evolution Through Time: Key Science Questions, Selected Mission Concepts and Future Investigations
Korablev, Oleg; Marcq, Emmanuel; Hensley, Scott +42 more
In this work we discuss various selected mission concepts addressing Venus evolution through time. More specifically, we address investigations and payload instrument concepts supporting scientific goals and open questions presented in the companion articles of this volume. Also included are their related investigations (observations & modelin…
Three-dimensional modeling of Venus photochemistry and clouds
Stolzenbach, Aurélien; Lefèvre, Franck; Määttänen, Anni +1 more
We present here three-dimensional simulations of the Venus photochemistry and clouds from the ground to the bottom of the thermosphere. For that purpose, we have implemented a state-of-the-art photochemical and equilibrium cloud model in the Venus Planetary Climate Model (Venus PCM). The interactive coupling between dynamics, radiation, chemistry …
Exploring the variability of the venusian thermosphere with the IPSL Venus GCM
Lefèvre, Franck; Lebonnois, Sébastien; Millour, Ehouarn +4 more
Recent simulations of the Institut Pierre-Simon Laplace (IPSL) Venus Global Climate Model (VGCM) developed at the Laboratoire de Météorologie Dynamique (LMD) were performed with a model top raised from ∼10-5 (∼150 km) to ∼10-8 Pa (180-250 km; upper boundary). The parameterizations of non-LTE CO2 near infrared heati…
Update on SO2, detection of OCS, CS, CS2, and SO3, and upper limits of H2S and HOCl in the Venus mesosphere using SOIR on board Venus Express
Aoki, S.; Vandaele, A. C.; Trompet, L. +6 more
We report on the update of SO2 and first detections of SO3, CS, and CS2, and detection of OCS above the cloud deck using the SOIR instrument on-board Venus Express, and upper limit profiles of H2S and HOCl. Based on the solar occultation spectra measured by SOIR covering all latitudes over the 2006-2014 …
Mineralogy of the Venus Surface
Gilmore, Martha S.; Ghail, Richard; Helbert, Jörn +6 more
Surface mineralogy records the primary composition, climate history and the geochemical cycling between the surface and atmosphere. We have not yet directly measured mineralogy on the Venus surface in situ, but a variety of independent investigations yield a basic understanding of surface composition and weathering reactions in the present era whe…
Influence of Solar Wind Variations on the Shapes of Venus' Plasma Boundaries Based on Venus Express Observations
André, N.; Fedorov, A.; Futaana, Y. +10 more
The interaction between the solar wind and Venus creates an induced magnetosphere. The regions of the induced magnetosphere are separated by plasma boundaries, where their shapes and sizes are influenced by variations in the surrounding environment. Investigations of the boundaries and their variability can help us understand the solar wind's effe…
Analysis of NASA's DSN Venus Express radio occultation data for year 2014
Gramigna, Edoardo; Tortora, Paolo; Zannoni, Marco +5 more
The Venus Express Radio Science Experiment (VeRa) was part of the scientific payload of the Venus Express (VEX) spacecraft and was targeted at the investigation of Venus' atmosphere, surface, and gravity field as well as the interplanetary medium. This paper describes the methods and the required calibrations applied to VEX-VeRa raw radio occultat…
Solar Control of the Pickup Ion Plume in the Dayside Magnetosheath of Venus
Xu, Qi; Zuo, Pingbing; Xu, Xiaojun +3 more
Using the 8.5-year Venus Express measurements, we demonstrate the asymmetric plasma distributions in the Venusian magnetosheath. An escaping plume is formed by pickup oxygen ions in the hemisphere where the motional electric field points outward from Venus, while the velocity of solar wind protons is faster in the opposite hemisphere. The pickup O…
Planar Magnetic Structures Downstream of Coronal Mass Ejection-driven Shocks in the Inner Heliosphere
Xu, Qi; Feng, Xueshang; Shen, Zhenning +7 more
Planar magnetic structures (PMSs), characterized by interplanetary magnetic field vectors remaining parallel to a specific plane, are commonly observed in the solar wind, especially in the sheath region of interplanetary coronal mass ejections (ICMEs). In this study, PMS events in the 2 hr regions downstream of ICME-driven shocks were investigated…
Venusian Ionosphere During Deep Solar Minima: Some New Insights Using Akatsuki Radio Science Experiment
Choudhary, R. K.; Imamura, T.; Ambili, K. M. +1 more
The characteristic features of different layers in the Venus ionosphere during the deep solar minimum of the solar cycle 24 have been studied using a radio science experiment onboard the Akatsuki spacecraft. Radio signals from the spacecraft were tracked at the Indian deep space network, Bangalore; Usuda Deep Space Center, Japan; and DLR Ground st…