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Missing pressure in the dayside ionosphere of Venus
Author(s) -
Cloutier P. A.,
Stewart B. K.,
Taylor H. A.
Publication year - 1992
Publication title -
geophysical research letters
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.007
H-Index - 273
eISSN - 1944-8007
pISSN - 0094-8276
DOI - 10.1029/92gl01446
Subject(s) - venus , solar wind , ionosphere , atmosphere of venus , environmental science , atmospheric sciences , magnetopause , altitude (triangle) , dynamic pressure , physics , geophysics , astrobiology , plasma , mechanics , geometry , mathematics , quantum mechanics
Data obtained by various instruments on the Pioneer‐Venus spacecraft were used to study the conservation of momentum flux from the solar wind through the dayside ionopause into the thermal Venus ionosphere. A consistent pressure deficit was found below the ionopause, with a strong dependence on solar wind pressure. Independent of solar wind pressure, the pressure deficit was found to decrease with decreasing altitude below the ionopause. Measurements of this pressure deficit (missing pressure) are presented as a function of altitude for various solar wind conditions. The identity of the missing pressure component and the correlation with solar wind pressure are discussed.