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Barotropic instability in the upper atmosphere of Venus
Author(s) -
Elson Lee S.
Publication year - 1978
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/gl005i007p00603
Subject(s) - barotropic fluid , venus , atmosphere of venus , instability , atmosphere (unit) , atmospheric sciences , physics , geology , meteorology , astrobiology , mechanics
Using a barotropic model, the upper atmosphere of Venus is examined for stability to small perturbations of a mean zonal wind. Several assumed mean zonal wind profiles, compatible with Mariner 10 UV observations, are examined with the result that some are stable, while others are unstable. At least one of the unstable profiles exhibits a maximum in the growth rate for wave‐number 3, in agreement with some UV observations of the clouds of Venus. The barotropic model should be useful for performing instability analyses using Pioneer Venus data in 1979.