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Atmospheres of Mars and Venus: A Review of Mariner 4 and 5 and Venera 4 Experiments
Author(s) -
Eshleman Von R.
Publication year - 1970
Publication title -
radio science
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.371
H-Index - 84
eISSN - 1944-799X
pISSN - 0048-6604
DOI - 10.1029/rs005i002p00325
Subject(s) - venus , atmosphere of venus , mars exploration program , astrobiology , atmosphere (unit) , atmosphere of mars , solar wind , atmospheric sciences , environmental science , geology , physics , meteorology , martian , plasma , quantum mechanics
Spacecraft measurements have revealed a hot, dense, CO 2 atmosphere on Venus and a cold, thin, CO 2 atmosphere on Mars. The surface pressure on Mars varies markedly with topographic elevation and probably with latitude and season. The lowest regions of the atmosphere of Venus have yet to be probed. Several thin micro wave‐absorbing cloud decks, perhaps consisting of water droplets or compounds of mercury, exist in the atmosphere of Venus. It may be possible to explain the ionospheres of Mars and Venus in terms of the photochemistry of CO 2 and lighter trace elements plus the effects of the impinging solar wind.