A two-dimensional model of the Venus ionosphere

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dc.contributor.advisorCloutier, Paul A.en_US
dc.creatorMcGary, John Edwarden_US
dc.date.accessioned2009-06-03T23:53:50Zen_US
dc.date.available2009-06-03T23:53:50Zen_US
dc.date.issued1988en_US
dc.description.abstractThe Pioneer Venus observations show a peak in the O$\sb2\sp+$ concentration at $\sim$170 km altitude in the dayside ionosphere of Venus. In this thesis, the 2-dimensional MHD equations are solved in a self-consistent manner, as an extension to the 1-dimensional model by Cloutier et al. (1987), to present a global model of the Venus dayside ionosphere for solar zenith angles (SZA) $\leq$ 60$\sp\circ$. The model describes, by calculating vertical profiles at different SZA, ion densities, magnetic field magnitudes, and ion velocities. The model shows that the O$\sb2\sp+$ peak, at $\sim$170 km altitude, occurs throughout the dayside ionosphere as observed by the Orbiter Ion Mass Spectrometer (OIMS). The velocity field, which affects the ion distributions, is mainly tangential near the ionopause and radial for altitudes below 200 km. The downward flow accelerates, near 170 km altitude, due to collisional interactions with the neutral atmosphere, and removes the O$\sb2\sp+$ densities to lower altitudes, thus, producing the bump observed in the altitude profile.en_US
dc.format.extent108 p.en_US
dc.format.mimetypeapplication/pdfen_US
dc.identifier.callnoThesis Sp. Sci. 1988 McGaryen_US
dc.identifier.citationMcGary, John Edward. "A two-dimensional model of the Venus ionosphere." (1988) Diss., Rice University. <a href="https://hdl.handle.net/1911/16168">https://hdl.handle.net/1911/16168</a>.en_US
dc.identifier.urihttps://hdl.handle.net/1911/16168en_US
dc.language.isoengen_US
dc.rightsCopyright is held by the author, unless otherwise indicated. Permission to reuse, publish, or reproduce the work beyond the bounds of fair use or other exemptions to copyright law must be obtained from the copyright holder.en_US
dc.subjectAtmospheric sciencesen_US
dc.subjectAstronomyen_US
dc.subjectAstrophysicsen_US
dc.titleA two-dimensional model of the Venus ionosphereen_US
dc.typeThesisen_US
dc.type.materialTexten_US
thesis.degree.departmentSpace Scienceen_US
thesis.degree.disciplineNatural Sciencesen_US
thesis.degree.grantorRice Universityen_US
thesis.degree.levelDoctoralen_US
thesis.degree.nameDoctor of Philosophyen_US
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