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Venus ionosphere: An interpretation of Mariner 10 observations
Author(s) -
Bauer S. J.,
Hartle R. E.
Publication year - 1974
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/gl001i001p00007
Subject(s) - venus , ionosphere , atmosphere of venus , solar wind , bow shock (aerodynamics) , astrobiology , physics , geophysics , atmospheric sciences , magnetopause , geology , shock wave , plasma , mechanics , quantum mechanics
The dayside ionosphere of Venus observed by Mariner 10 may be understood in terms of a dynamic interaction with the solar wind which results in a compressed topside above an “F 2 ledge” consisting of O + and a dynamically unaffected F 1 layer corresponding to a neutral temperature T≃380°K and consisting of O 2 + and CO 2 + . The top of the upper ledge appears to be an ionopause caused by solar wind scavenging of He + , representing a solar‐wind obstacle consistent with the bow shock observations.