Predicted electrical conductivity between 0 and 80 km in the Venusian atmosphere

W. J. Borucki*, Z. Levin, R. C. Whitten, R. G. Keesee, L. A. Capone, O. B. Toon, J. Dubach

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

Abstract

Calculations of the space charge, ion density, and conductivity in the Venus atmosphere were made. The presence of the cloud particles on Venus causes a profound reduction in the calculated values of the ion density and conductivity compared to the values that are obtained without consideration of the cloud particles. When the cloud particles are included in the calculations, the results for the ion density and conductivity are approximately the same as those of the terrestrial atmosphere at the same pressure-altitude. Because the particles span such a large range of sizes and are abundant over a substantial range of pressure, the space charge varies strongly with altitude and particle size. Differential settling of the particles is expected to produce weak electric fields in the clouds.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)302-321
Number of pages20
JournalIcarus
Volume51
Issue number2
DOIs
StatePublished - Aug 1982
Externally publishedYes

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