Abstract The results of infrared spectrometer experiment on board Venera-15 spacecraft provided the chance to retrieve the thermal and aerosol structures of the atmosphere in a selfconsistent way for the altitudes 55–100 km. On the basis of these data the outgoing thermal flux and cooling rates were computed. The value of the outgoing flux is 170–180 Wt/m2 for the latitudes 0–50°N. In the “cold collar” region (50–70°N) an abrupt decrease of the flux to the values of 130–140 Wt/m2 is observed. The outgoing flux reaches its maximal value of about 210 Wt/m2 in the region of polar “hot spots”. The cooling rate above 80 km is mainly affected by the radiative transport in the 15μm CO2 band. Its value increases with altitude and reaches the value of 30–40 K/day at 100 km. In the altitude range 75-55 km the cooling rate profile depends on the cloud structure. At the altitudes of 60–65 km the cooling rate maximum of 5–10 K/day connected with the cloud top is observed. The study of thermal fluxes and cooling rates in the planetary atmosphere is important for the problems of atmospheric heat balance and dynamics. Fourier spectrometer instrument on board Venera-15 measured the spectra of planet in the thermal range (250–1600 cm−1 /1/. Examples of spectra are shown in Figure 1. Roughly speaking each spectrum could be represented by the Plank function of a blackbody at certain temperature. In the case of Venus smooth Plank “hill” is modified by the absorption features of gases composing the atmosphere and aerosol signatures.
Thermal fluxes and cooling rates in the Venus atmosphere from Venera-15 infrared spectrometer data
Advances in Space Research ; 12 , 9 ; 73-77
1992-01-01
5 pages
Aufsatz (Zeitschrift)
Elektronische Ressource
Englisch
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