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Lasers and the Dynamic Mesosphere/Thermosphere of VenusA review of ground based mid-infrared uniquely high spectral. resolution measurements of Venus dynamics, temperature, and chemistry will be presented. The described studies will focus on the use of CO2 absorption features and the discovery- and use of CO2 thermospheric non-thermal emission: lines as probes of Venus' atmosphere, from the cloud tops to approx.120 km in the thermosphere. The first investigations using infrared heterodyne spectroscopy with resolving power lambda/Delta(lambda) approx. 10(exp 6) to measure true emission line profiles and to determine their non-thermal nature and lasing component will be described. The use of the thermospheric non-thermal CO2 emission to directly measure sub-solar to anti-solar winds and zonal circulation near 110 km altitudes on Venus to approx.2 m/s accuracy will also be described. The measured emission lures are also used to obtain global maps of mesospheric/thermospheric kinetic and rotational temperatures as well as to obtain evidence of the natural lasing phenomena. Carbon dioxide absorption features globally probe lower altitudes in the atmosphere and can be used to determine nightside temperatures. Isotopic 13 CO2 absorption lines are used to probe deeper in the atmosphere to measure the sub-solar to anti-solar return flow at altitudes just above the cloud tops. These results provided a model for global circulation in the 65 - 120 km altitude region first proposed by Goldstein (1989, PhD.Thesis, U. Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, USA). Results of similar wind and temperature measurements made in recent years will be compared to earlier results to investigate changes in the circulation and temperatures since approx.1990. The high resolution infrared heterodyne technique was also used to investigate chemical processes above the cloud tops, specifically evidence and constraints on oxygen-based chemistry. Described measurements were made by infrared heterodyne spectroscopy using the Goddard Space Flight Center Infrared Heterodyne Spectrometer (IRHS) the GSFC Heterodyne Instrument for Planetary wind And Composition (HIPWAC) and the University of Cologne Tuneable Heterodyne Infrared Spectrometer (THIS).
Document ID
20100031081
Acquisition Source
Goddard Space Flight Center
Document Type
Abstract
Authors
Kostiuk, Theodor
(NASA Goddard Space Flight Center Greenbelt, MD, United States)
Fast, Kelly E.
(NASA Goddard Space Flight Center Greenbelt, MD, United States)
Livengood, Timothy A.
(NASA Goddard Space Flight Center Greenbelt, MD, United States)
Schmuelling, Frank
(Cologne Univ. Germany)
Hewagama, Tilak
(NASA Goddard Space Flight Center Greenbelt, MD, United States)
Annen, John
(NASA Goddard Space Flight Center Greenbelt, MD, United States)
Buhl, David
(NASA Goddard Space Flight Center Greenbelt, MD, United States)
Sonnabend, Guido
(Cologne Univ. Germany)
Sornig, Manuela
(Cologne Univ. Germany)
Kroetz, Peter
(Cologne Univ. Germany)
Goldstein, Jeffrey
(National Center for Earth and Space Science Education Capitol Heights, MD, United States)
Date Acquired
August 25, 2013
Publication Date
June 20, 2010
Subject Category
Astronomy
Meeting Information
Meeting: International Venus Conference
Location: Aussois
Country: France
Start Date: June 20, 2010
End Date: June 26, 2010
Distribution Limits
Public
Copyright
Other

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