The ultraviolet markings on Venus: An analysis of the Venera 9 data

摘要: Abstract The emergent intensity from the cloud tops of Venus has been measured by Venera 9 orbiter along five paths on illuminated disk. These radiance distributions at 3500 A contain information vertical and horizontal structure clouds explicitly show effects small- large-scale ultraviolet markings. Model calculations with a Mie phase function for 1.05-μm sulfuric acid aerosols indicate that have layered structure. best agreement is obtained conservative scattering top layer an optical thickness about 2 lower composed mixture H2SO4 large (∼10-μm) absorbing particles. However, to match data each angle, it found one-eighth must consist submicron which scatter more isotropically than 1-μm aerosols. In layer, assumed radii 1 10 μm absorber, respectively, average number density aerosol in ratio 1000. dark equatorial band seen Mariner photometry, however, could as much times this concentration absorber. It demonstrated inhomogeneities ( > 1000 km) be considered supplement any analysis based horizontally homogeneous model. shape observed are affected “Y” feature band. Erroneous conclusions unavoidable if ignores these matching distributions.