A preliminary analysis of Viking S-X Doppler data and comparison to results of Mariner 6, 7, and 9 DRVID measurements of the solar wind turbulence

S-X Doppler data obtained during more than 135 Viking passes from Aug. 3 to Dec. 15, 1976 were analyzed and compared with data from previous investigations using Mariner differenced range versus integrated Doppler to determine changes in the turbulence over the sunspot cycle. A comparison of the data indicates that: (1) electron density fluctuations decline with heliocentric distance; (2) the level of turbulence may be a factor of two lower near sunspot minimum than at maximum; and (3) the spectrum of the fluctuations may be steeper near sunspot minimum. The expected range error for various time scales and geometries is derived from the results.