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Reduction and analysis of seasons 15 and 16 (1991 - 1992) Pioneer Venus radio occulation data and correlative studies with observations of the near infrared emission of VenusIn this study, we sought to characterize variations in the abundance and distribution of subcloud H2SO4(g) in the Venus atmosphere by using a number of 13cm radio occultation measurements conducted with the Pioneer Venus Orbiter near the inferior conjunction of 1991. A total of ten data sets were examined and analyzed, producing vertical profiles of temperature and pressure in the neutral atmosphere, and sulfuric acid vapor abundance below the main cloud layer. Two of the vertical profiles of the abundance of H2SO4(g) were correlated with NIR images of the night side of Venus made during the same period of time by Boris Ragent (under a separate PVO Guest Investigator Grant). Initially, we had hoped that the combination of these two different types of data would make it possible to constrain or identify the composition of the large particles causing the features observed in the NIR images. However, the sparseness of the radio occultation data set, combined with the sparseness of the NIR data set (one image per day over an 8 day period) made it impossible to draw strong conclusions. Considered on their own, however, the parameters retrieved from the radio occultation experiments are valuable science products.
Document ID
19950026279
Acquisition Source
Legacy CDMS
Document Type
Contractor Report (CR)
Authors
Jenkins, Jon M.
(NASA Ames Research Center Moffett Field, CA, United States)
Date Acquired
September 6, 2013
Publication Date
May 31, 1995
Subject Category
Lunar And Planetary Exploration
Report/Patent Number
NASA-CR-199071
NAS 1.26:199071
Accession Number
95N32700
Funding Number(s)
CONTRACT_GRANT: NCC2-753
Distribution Limits
Public
Copyright
Work of the US Gov. Public Use Permitted.
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