Article (Scientific journals)
Venus nitric oxide nightglow mapping from SPICAV nadir observations.
Stiepen, Arnaud; Gérard, Jean-Claude; Dumont, Maïté et al.
2013In Icarus
Peer Reviewed verified by ORBi
 

Files


Full Text
1-s2.0-S0019103513002315-main.pdf
Publisher postprint (1.41 MB)
Download

All documents in ORBi are protected by a user license.

Send to



Details



Keywords :
LiSRI
Abstract :
[en] Nitric oxide δ (190-240 nm) and γ (255-270 nm) emissions on the Venus nightside have been observed with Venus Express SPICAV instrument operated in the nadir mode. These ultraviolet emissions arise from the desexcitation of excited NO molecules created by radiative recombination of O(3P) and N(4S) atoms. These atoms are produced on the dayside of the planet through photodissociation of CO2 and N2 molecules and are transported to the nightside by the global subsolar to antisolar circulation. We analyze a wide dataset of nadir observations obtained since 2006 to determine the statistical distribution of the NO nightglow and its variability. Individual observations show a great deal of variability and may exhibit multiple maxima along latitudinal cuts. We compare this global map with the results obtained during the Pioneer-Venus mission and with the recent O2(a1Δg) nightglow map. The NO airglow distribution shows a statistical bright region extending from 01:00 and 03:30 local time and 25°N to 10°S, very similar to the Pioneer result obtained 35 years earlier during maximum solar activity conditions. The shift from the antisolar point and the difference with the O2 airglow indicate that superrotating zonal winds are statistically weak near 97 km, but play an important role in the lower thermosphere. We compare these results with other evidence for superrotation in the thermosphere and point out possible sources of momentum transfer.
Disciplines :
Space science, astronomy & astrophysics
Author, co-author :
Stiepen, Arnaud ;  Université de Liège - ULiège > Département d'astrophys., géophysique et océanographie (AGO) > Labo de physique atmosphérique et planétaire (LPAP)
Gérard, Jean-Claude  ;  Université de Liège - ULiège > Département d'astrophys., géophysique et océanographie (AGO) > Département d'astrophys., géophysique et océanographie (AGO)
Dumont, Maïté ;  Université de Liège - ULiège > Département d'astrophys., géophysique et océanographie (AGO) > Physique des atmosphères et des environnements planétaires
Cox, Cédric ;  Université de Liège - ULiège > Services administratifs généraux > SEGI : Etudes et intégr. de systèmes : Antenne administr.
Bertaux, Jean-Loup
Language :
English
Title :
Venus nitric oxide nightglow mapping from SPICAV nadir observations.
Publication date :
2013
Journal title :
Icarus
ISSN :
0019-1035
eISSN :
1090-2643
Publisher :
Elsevier, San Diego-CA, United States
Peer reviewed :
Peer Reviewed verified by ORBi
Name of the research project :
PRODEX - PROgramme de Développement d'Expériences scientifiques
Funders :
ASE - Agence Spatiale Européenne [FR]
Available on ORBi :
since 23 May 2013

Statistics


Number of views
86 (25 by ULiège)
Number of downloads
219 (5 by ULiège)

Scopus citations®
 
17
Scopus citations®
without self-citations
12
OpenCitations
 
34

Bibliography


Similar publications



Contact ORBi