Study and Interpretation of the Millimeter-Wave Spectrum of Venus.
Abstract
The effects of the Venus atmospheric constitutes on its millimeter wavelength emission are investigated. Specifically, this research describes the methodology and the results of laboratory measurements which are used to calculate the opacity of some of the major absorbers in the Venus atmosphere. The pressure-broadened absorption of gaseous SO_2/CO_2 and gaseous H_2SO_4 /CO_2 has been measured at millimeter-wavelengths. We have also developed new formalisms for computing the absorptivities of these gases based on our laboratory work. The complex dielectric constant of liquid sulfuric acid has been measured and the expected opacity from the liquid sulfuric acid cloud layer found in the atmosphere of Venus has been evaluated. The partial pressure of gaseous H_2SO _4 has been measured which resulted in a more accurate estimate of the dissociation factor of H _2SO_4. A radiative transfer model has been developed in order to understand how each atmospheric constituent affects the millimeter-wave emission from Venus. Our results from the radiative transfer model are compared with recent observations of the microwave and millimeter-wave emissions from Venus. Our main conclusion from this work is that gaseous H _2SO_4 is the most likely cause of the variation in the observed emission from Venus at 112 GHz.
- Publication:
-
Ph.D. Thesis
- Pub Date:
- 1992
- Bibcode:
- 1992PhDT.........2F
- Keywords:
-
- Engineering: Electronics and Electrical, Physics: Atmospheric Science, Physics: Astronomy and Astrophysics;
- Atmospheric Composition;
- Emission Spectra;
- Microwave Emission;
- Millimeter Waves;
- Planetary Radiation;
- Sulfur Dioxides;
- Sulfuric Acid;
- Venus (Planet);
- Venus Atmosphere;
- Venus Clouds;
- Absorptivity;
- Carbon Dioxide;
- Cloud Cover;
- Dissociation;
- Opacity;
- Partial Pressure;
- Radiative Transfer;
- Lunar and Planetary Exploration