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Solar cycle dependence of the location of the Venus bow shock
Author(s) -
Alexander C. J.,
Russell C. T.
Publication year - 1985
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/gl012i006p00369
Subject(s) - venus , atmosphere of venus , bow shock (aerodynamics) , physics , bow wave , solar wind , magnetosheath , solar cycle 22 , solar minimum , atmosphere (unit) , solar cycle , atmospheric sciences , shock wave , astronomy , magnetopause , astrobiology , meteorology , plasma , mechanics , quantum mechanics
Initial measurements of the Venus bow shock obtained by Pioneer Venus in 1979 near solar maximum indicated that the bow shock was on average 2.44 R V from the center of the planet in the terminator plane. This is 0.35 R V further from Venus than observed by Venera 9/10 in 1976. In the past this discrepancy has been attributed to some effect of the solar cycle. Recent measurements by Pioneer Venus support this interpretation. In 1980 the distance to the bow shock reached a maximum of 2.45 R V and since then has been almost steadily declining toward the distance measured by Venera near solar minimum. The variation in bow shock position is well correlated with the sunspot number and the F 10.7 cm flux over this period. We attribute this behavior to the variation in the neutral atmosphere of Venus with the solar cycle and its subsequent effect on the mass‐loading of the solar wind.