Morphology and dynamics of the upper cloud layer of Venus (original) (raw)

Nature volume 450, pages 633–636 (2007)Cite this article

Abstract

Venus is completely covered by a thick cloud layer, of which the upper part is composed of sulphuric acid and some unknown aerosols1. The cloud tops are in fast retrograde rotation (super-rotation), but the factors responsible for this super-rotation are unknown2. Here we report observations of Venus with the Venus Monitoring Camera3 on board the Venus Express spacecraft. We investigate both global and small-scale properties of the clouds, their temporal and latitudinal variations, and derive wind velocities. The southern polar region is highly variable and can change dramatically on timescales as short as one day, perhaps arising from the injection of SO2 into the mesosphere. The convective cells in the vicinity of the subsolar point are much smaller than previously inferred4,5,6, which we interpret as indicating that they are confined to the upper cloud layer, contrary to previous conclusions7,8, but consistent with more recent study9.

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Acknowledgements

S.S.L. was supported by a NASA grant.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Max-Planck-Institut für Sonnensystemforschung, D-37191 Katlenburg-Lindau, Germany
    W. J. Markiewicz, D. V. Titov, H. U. Keller, R. Moissl & P. Russo
  2. Space Research Institute (IKI), 117997 Moscow, Russia
    D. V. Titov & N. Ignatiev
  3. Space Science and Engineering Center, University of Wisconsin, Madison, Wisconsin 53706, USA , Madison
    S. S. Limaye
  4. Institut für Planetenforschung, DLR, 12489 Berlin, Germany , Berlin
    R. Jaumann
  5. Physikalisches Institut, CH-3012 Bern, Switzerland
    N. Thomas
  6. IDA, TU Braunschweig, D-38106 Braunschweig, Germany , Braunschweig
    H. Michalik

Authors

  1. W. J. Markiewicz
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  2. D. V. Titov
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  3. S. S. Limaye
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  4. H. U. Keller
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  5. N. Ignatiev
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  6. R. Jaumann
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  7. N. Thomas
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  8. H. Michalik
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  9. R. Moissl
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  10. P. Russo
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Correspondence toW. J. Markiewicz.

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Markiewicz, W., Titov, D., Limaye, S. et al. Morphology and dynamics of the upper cloud layer of Venus.Nature 450, 633–636 (2007). https://doi.org/10.1038/nature06320

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Editorial Summary

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ESA's Venus Express probe has been in orbit since April 2006. Eight research papers in this issue present new results from the mission, covering the atmosphere, polar features, interactions with the solar wind and the controversial matter of venusian lightning. Håkan Svedham et al. open the section with a review of the similarities and (mostly) differences between Venus and its 'twin', the Earth. Andrew Ingersoll considers the latest results, and also how the project teams plan to make the most of the probe's remaining six years of life.