Dynamics of the Venus ionosphere: a two-dimensional model study

Journal Article · Thu Nov 01 04:00:00 EST 1984 · Icarus; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1016/0019-1035(84)90192-1· OSTI ID:5970698

Whitten, R C; Mccormick, P T; Merritt, D; Thompson, K W; Brynsvold, R R; Eich, C J; Knudsen, W C

A two-dimensional model of the ionosphere of Venus which simulates ionospheric dynamics by self-consistently solving the plasma equations of motion, including the inertial term, in finite difference form has been constructed. The model, which is applied over the solar zenith angle range extending from 60 to 140 deg and the altitude range 100 to 480 km, simulates the measured horizontal velocity field quite satisfactorily. The ion density field is somewhat overestimated on the dayside, because of the choice model neutral atmosphere, and underestimated on the nightside, because of setting the ionopause height at too low an altitude. It is concluded that solar photoionization on the dayside and ion recombination on the nightside are the processes mainly responsible for accelerating the plasma to the observed velocities. The plasma flow appears to be sufficient to maintain the nightside ionosphere at or near the observed median level of ion densities. 42 references.

• Research Organization: NASA, Ames Research Center, Moffett Field, CA
• OSTI ID: 5970698
• Journal Information: Icarus; (United States), Journal Name: Icarus; (United States) Vol. 60; ISSN ICRSA
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

640107* -- Astrophysics & Cosmology-- Planetary Phenomena
71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS
GENERAL PHYSICS
CHEMICAL REACTIONS
DIFFERENTIAL EQUATIONS
EQUATIONS
EQUATIONS OF MOTION
FLUID MECHANICS
HYDRODYNAMICS
ION DENSITY
IONIZATION
MAGNETOHYDRODYNAMICS
MATHEMATICAL MODELS
MECHANICS
PARTIAL DIFFERENTIAL EQUATIONS
PHOTOIONIZATION
PLANETARY IONOSPHERES
PLANETS
PLASMA
VENUS PLANET