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Turbulence in planetary occultations. II - Effects on atmospheric profiles derived from Doppler measurements. III - Effects on atmospheric profiles derived from intensity measurementsThe nature and magnitude of turbulence-induced errors in atmospheric profiles derived from Doppler measurements made during radio occultations are investigated. It is found that turbulence in planetary atmospheres induces both fluctuating and systematic errors in derived profiles, but the errors of both types are very small. Consideration of the occultation of Mariner 10 by Venus and of the Pioneer occultations by Jupiter shows that the rms fractional errors in the atmospheric profiles derived from these observations were less than 0.01 in both temperature and pressure, while the fractional systematic errors were typically of the order of 1 millionth. The extent to which atmospheric profiles derived from radio and optical intensity measurements are affected by turbulence is also examined. The results indicate that turbulence in planetary atmospheres has only a marginal effect on derived profiles in the weak-scattering limit and that the turbulence-induced errors in this case are always much larger than the corresponding errors in profiles derived from radio Doppler measurements.
Document ID
19790027599
Acquisition Source
Legacy CDMS
Document Type
Reprint (Version printed in journal)
Authors
Haugstad, B. S.
Date Acquired
August 9, 2013
Publication Date
September 1, 1978
Publication Information
Publication: Icarus
Volume: 35
Subject Category
Lunar And Planetary Exploration
Accession Number
79A11612
Funding Number(s)
CONTRACT_GRANT: NGL-05-020-014
Distribution Limits
Public
Copyright
Other

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