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Electron temperature and heat flow in the nightside Venus ionosphereA steady-state two-dimensional heat balance model is used to analyze the night side Venusian ionospheric electron temperatures given by the Pioneer Venus orbiter electron temperature probe. The energy calculation includes the solar EUV heating at the terminator, electron cooling to ions and neutrals, and heat conduction within the ionospheric plasma. An optimum magnetic field is derived by solving for the heat flux directions which force energy conservation while constrained by the observed temperatures within the range of 80-170 deg solar zenith angle and 160-170 km. The heat flux vectors indicate a magnetic field that connects the lower night side ionosphere to the day side ionosphere, and connects the upper ionosphere to the ionosheath. The lower ionosphere is heated through conduction of heat from the dayside, and the upper ionosphere is heated by the solar wind in the ionosheath with heat flowing downward and from the nightside to the day side.
Document ID
19810042392
Acquisition Source
Legacy CDMS
Document Type
Reprint (Version printed in journal)
Authors
Hoegy, W. R.
(NASA Goddard Space Flight Center Greenbelt, MD, United States)
Brace, L. H.
(NASA Goddard Space Flight Center Greenbelt, MD, United States)
Theis, R. F.
(NASA Goddard Space Flight Center Greenbelt, MD, United States)
Mayr, H. G.
(NASA Goddard Space Flight Center Laboratory for Planetary Atmospheres, Greenbelt, Md., United States)
Date Acquired
August 11, 2013
Publication Date
December 30, 1980
Publication Information
Publication: Journal of Geophysical Research
Volume: 85
Subject Category
Lunar And Planetary Exploration
Accession Number
81A26796
Distribution Limits
Public
Copyright
Other

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