Solar Activity Variations of the Venus Thermosphere/Ionosphere

K. Sung, Jane L. Fox

Research output: Contribution to conferenceAbstract

Abstract

Substantial variations of the ionosphere and thermosphere of Venus with solar activity are expected, but few detailed studies have been carried out. Using models of the background atmosphere from the VTS3 model of Hedin, we have computed the density profiles of 14 ions and 7 neutral species in the Venus ionosphere/thermosphere for high and low solar activities using recently updated electron-impact and photoabsorption cross sections. We also include photoabsorption in the soft x-ray region, which produces ionization to lower altitudes than previous models have shown. We find that at high solar activity, the O+ density profile produces a pronounced F 2 shoulder, which should not be misinterpreted as a signature of a magnetic field in the Venus ionosphere.

Original languageAmerican English
StatePublished - Dec 1 1999
Event1999 American Geophysical Fall Meeting - San Francisco, United States
Duration: Dec 13 1999Dec 17 1999

Conference

Conference1999 American Geophysical Fall Meeting
Country/TerritoryUnited States
CitySan Francisco
Period12/13/9912/17/99

Disciplines

  • Astrophysics and Astronomy
  • Physics

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