Open AccessRecovery and Validation of Venus Ionospheric Electron Density Profiles from Pioneer Venus Orbiter Radio Occultation Observations
Author(s) -
Paul Withers,
Kerry Hensley,
Marissa F. Vogt,
Jacob Hermann
Publication year - 2020
Publication title -
the planetary science journal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
ISSN - 2632-3338
DOI - 10.3847/psj/abcaf9
Subject(s) - venus , orbiter , radio occultation , atmosphere of venus , ionosphere , solar zenith angle , occultation , zenith , astrobiology , electron density , astronomy , physics , remote sensing , environmental science , geology , electron , quantum mechanics
The Pioneer Venus Orbiter radio occultation experiment acquired vertical profiles of electron density in the ionosphere of Venus. These profiles were not readily accessible to researchers. Here we report the recovery and validation of a set of electron density profiles from Pioneer Venus Orbiter. More than 200 profiles spanning solar zenith angles of 30°–170° were deemed acceptable for scientific analysis. These profiles sample solar minimum, moderate, and maximum conditions. The profiles are publicly available and ready for use in scientific investigations of the ionosphere of Venus and related topics.