Context images for Venus Express radio occultation measurements: A search for a correlation between temperature structure and UV contrasts in the clouds of Venus

• DOI: 10.48550/arxiv.2502.04650
• Publication Date: 2025-02-06
• Authors: M. Roos‐Serote; Colin Wilson; Ryan J. MacDonald; S. Tellmann; Yeon Joo Lee; I. Khatuntsev
• Keywords: Radio occultation; Atmosphere of Venus; Occultation

Venus exhibits strong and changing contrasts at ultraviolet wavelengths apparently related to the clouds dynamics in cloud layer, but date their origin continues be unknown. We investigate nature of UV exhibited by examining possible correlations between thermal structure inferred from radio occultation data brightness imagery data, both observed with Express. analyse Express images obtained 11 hours before a few after time measurements same area. account for advection zonal meridional winds apply phase angle correction compensate viewing geometry. find anti-correlation UV-brightness atmospheric temperature 65-70 km altitude range low latitudes. Heating this latitude region due an increase UV-absorber has been predicted radiative forcing studies. The predictions roughly match our amplitude UV-dark UV-bright regions. no evidence any correlation static stability atmosphere 50-80 region. This could first observational direct link 65-70km Venus.