Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Atmospheric Circulation and Dynamics

  • Chapter
  • First Online:
Towards Understanding the Climate of Venus

Part of the book series: ISSI Scientific Report Series ((ISSI,volume 11))

Abstract

The deep atmosphere of Venus ( ∼ 180 km including the thermosphere) presents both observational and modeling challenges. Its thick, nearly uniform global cloud cover makes it difficult to fathom the vertical structure of the global circulation through available techniques that are applied to Earth’s atmosphere. Further, the slow rotation of the planet and the consequential prevailing cyclostrophic balance restricts easy inferences about the meridional flow and circulation (Gierasch et al. 1997, Read 1986, Schubert et al. 2007).

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this chapter

Log in via an institution
Chapter
USD 29.95
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
eBook
USD 84.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as EPUB and PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
Softcover Book
USD 109.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Compact, lightweight edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info
Hardcover Book
USD 109.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Durable hardcover edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Purchases are for personal use only

Institutional subscriptions

References

  • D.A. Allen, J.W. Crawford, Cloud structure on the dark side of Venus. Nature 307, 222–224 (1984)

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  • J. Bailey, S. Chamberlain, D. Crisp, V.S. Meadows, Near infrared imaging spectroscopy of Venus with the Anglo-Australian telescope. Planet Space Sci. 56, 1385–1390 (2008)

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  • M.J.S. Belton, P.J. Gierasch, M.D. Smith, P. Helfenstein, P.J. Schinder, J.B. Pollack, K.A. Rages, A.P. Ingersoll, K.P. Klaasen, J. Veverka, C.D. Anger, M.H. Carr, C.R. Chapman, M.E. Davies, F.P. Fanale, R. Greeley, R. Greenberg, J.W. Head, D. Morrison, G. Neukum, C.B. Pilcher, Images from Galileo of the Venus cloud deck. Science 253, 1531–1536 (1991)

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  • S.W. Bougher, M.J. Alexander, H.G. Mayr, Upper atmosphere dynamics: global circulation and gravity waves, in Venus II: Geology, Geophysics, Atmosphere, and Solar Wind Environment, ed. by S.W. Bougher, D.M. Hunten, R.J. Philips Tucson, AZ, University of Arizon Press (1997), pp. 259–291

    Google Scholar 

  • S.W. Bougher, S. Rafkin, P. Drossart, Dynamics of the Venus upper atmosphere: Outstanding problems and new constraints expected from Venus Express. Planet Space Sci. 54, 1371–1380 (2006)

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  • C. Boyer, P. Guerin, Study of retrograde rotation, in 4 days, of exterior cloud layer of Venus. Icarus 11, 338–351 (1969)

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  • A.S. Brecht, Tracing the Dynamics in Venus’ Upper Atmosphere, Ph.D. Thesis, University of Michigan (2011)

    Google Scholar 

  • R.W. Carlson, K.H. Baines, L.W. Kamp, P.R. Weissman, W.D. Smythe, A.C. Ocampo, T.V. Johnson, D.L. Matson, J.B. Pollack, D. Grinspoon, Galileo infrared imaging spectroscopy measurements at Venus. Science 253, 1541–1548 (1991)

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  • R. Clancy, B.J. Sandor, G.H. Moriarty-Schieven, Dynamics of the Venus upper atmosphere: Global-temporal distribution of winds, temperature, and CO at the Venus mesopause. Bull. Amer. Astron. Soc. 39, 539 (2007)

    ADS  Google Scholar 

  • R.T. Clancy, D.O. Muhleman, Diurnal CO variations in the Venus mesosphere from CO Microwave-Spectra. Icarus 64, 157–182 (1985)

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  • R.T. Clancy, D.O. Muhleman, Long-term (1979–1990) changes in the thermal, dynamical, and compositional structure of the Venus mesosphere as inferred from microwave spectral line observations of C-12O, C-13O, and CO-18. Icarus 89, 129–146 (1991)

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  • R.T. Clancy, B.J. Sandor, G.H. Moriarty-Schieven, Venus upper atmospheric CO, temperature, and winds across the afternoon/evening terminator from june 2007 JCMT sub-millimeter line observations. Planet Space Sci. 56, 1344–1354 (2008)

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  • D. Crisp, S. McMuldroch, S.K. Stephens, W.M. Sinton, B. Ragent, K.-W. Hodapp, R.G. Probst, L.R. Doyle, D.A. Allen, J. Elias, Ground-based near-infrared imaging observations of Venus during the Galileo encounter. Science 253, 1538–1541 (1991)

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  • D. Crisp, V.S. Meadows, B. Bezard, C. deBergh, J.P. Maillard, F.P. Mills, Ground-based near-infrared observations of the Venus nightside: 1.27-μ m o-2(a(1)delta(g)) airglow from the upper atmosphere. J. Geophys. Res.-Planets 101, 4577–4593 (1996)

    Google Scholar 

  • A.D. Del Genio, W.B. Rossow, Planetary-scale waves and the cyclic nature of cloud top dynamics on Venus. J. Atmos. Sci. 47, 293–318 (1990)

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  • Y. Gabsi, J.-L. Bertaux, A. Hauchecorne, J. Schmitt, S. Guibert, Measuring Venus’ winds using the absolute astronomical accelerometer: solid superrotation model of Venus’ clouds. Plan. Space Sci. 56, 1454–1466 (2008). doi:10.1016/j.pss.2008.07.016

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  • P. Gaulme, F. Schmider, C. Grec, A. Lopez-Ariste, T. Widemann, B. Gelly, Venus wind map at cloud top level with the MTR/THEMIS visible spectrometer, I: instrumental performance and first results. Planet. Space Sci. 56, 1335–1343 (2008). doi:10.1016/j. pss.2008.06.014

    Google Scholar 

  • J.C. Gerard, C. Cox, L. Soret, A. Saglam, G. Piccioni, J.L. Bertaux, P. Drossart, Concurrent observations of the ultraviolet nitric oxide and infrared O(2) nightglow emissions with Venus Express. J. Geophys. Res.-Planets 114, E00B44 (2009)

    Google Scholar 

  • P.J. Gierasch, R.M. Goody, R.E. Young, D. Crisp, C. Edwards, R. Kahn, D. Rider, A. Del Genio, R. Greeley, A. Hou, C.B. Leovy, D. McCleese, M. Newman, The general circulation of the Venus atmosphere: an assessment, in Venus II: Geology, Geophysics, Atmosphere, and Solar Wind Environment, ed. by S.W. Bougher, D.M. Hunten, R.J. Philips, Tucson, AZ, University of Arizon Press, p. 459 (1997)

    Google Scholar 

  • J.J. Goldstein, M.J. Mumma, T. Kostiuk, D. Deming, F. Espenak, D. Zipoy, Absolute wind velocities in the lower thermosphere of Venus using infrared heterodyne spectroscopy. Icarus 94, 45–63 (1991)

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  • S. Gulkis, R.K. Kakar, M.J. Klein, E.T. Olsen, W.J. Wilson, Venus – detection of variations in stratospheric carbon monoxide, in Proceedings of the 19th Symposium on Planetary Atmospheres (A79-13101 03-91), Ottawa, 16–19 August 1977 (Royal Society of Canada, Ottawa, 1977), pp. 61–65

    Google Scholar 

  • M.A. Gurwell, D.O. Muhleman, K.P. Shah, G.L. Berge, D.J. Rudy, A.W. Grossman, Observations of the co bulge on Venus and implications for mesospheric winds. Icarus 115, 141–158 (1995)

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  • R. Hueso, J. Peralta, A. Sanchez-Lavega, Assessing the long-term variability of Venus winds at cloud level from VIRTIS-Venus Express. Icarus 217, 585–598 (2012)

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  • N.I. Ignatiev, D.V. Titov, G. Piccioni, P. Drossart, W.J. Markiewicz, V. Cottini, T. Roatsch, M. Almeida, N. Manoel, Altimetry of the Venus cloud tops from the Venus Express observations. J. Geophys. Res.-Planets 114, E00B43 (2009)

    Google Scholar 

  • E. Lellouch, J.J. Goldstein, J. Rosenqvist, S.W. Bougher, G. Paubert, Global circulation, thermal structure, and carbon-monoxide distribution in Venus mesosphere in 1991. Icarus 110, 315–339 (1994)

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  • E. Lellouch, T. Clancy, D. Crisp, A. Kliore, D. Titov, and S.W. Bougher, Monitoring of Mesospheric Structure and Dynamics, Venus II (Tucson, AZ, University of Arizona Press, 1997)

    Google Scholar 

  • E. Lellouch, G. Paubert, R. Moreno, A. Moullet, Monitoring Venus’ mesospheric winds in support of Venus Express: IRAM 30-m and APEX observations. Planet Space Sci. 56, 1355–1367 (2008)

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  • C.B. Leovy, Rotation of the upper atmosphere of Venus. J. Atmos. Sci. 30, 1218–1220 (1973). doi:10.1175/1520-0469(1973)030

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  • S. Limaye, M. Allen, S. Atreya, K. Baines, J.-L. Bertaux, G. Bjoraker, M. Bullock, E. Chassefiere, G. Chin, C. Covey, D. Grinspoon, S. Gulkis, V. Kerzhanovich, S. Lewis, K. McGouldrick, W. Markiewicz, R. Pertzborn, C. Rozoff, G. Piccioni, G. Schubert, L. Sromovsky, C. Wilson, Y. Yung, Venus atmosphere: Major questions and required observations. input to the national academies planetary science decadal survey, Tech. Rep., Lunar and Planetary Institute, URL http://www.lpi.usra.edu/vexag (2010)

  • S.S. Limaye, Venus atmospheric circulation: Observations and implications of the thermal structure. Adv. Space Res. 5, 51–62 (1985)

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  • S.S. Limaye, Venus atmospheric circulation: Known and unknown. J. Geophys. Res. 112, E04S09 (2007). doi:10.1029/2006JE002814

    Google Scholar 

  • S.S. Limaye, V.E. Suomi, Cloud motions on Venus – global structure and organization. J. Atmos. Sci. 38, 1220–1235 (1981)

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  • S.S. Limaye, C.J. Grund, S.P. Burre, Zonal mean circulation at the cloud level on Venus – spring and fall 1979 ocpp observations. Icarus 51, 416–439 (1982)

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  • S.S. Limaye, C. Grassotti, M.J. Kuetemeyer, Venus – cloud level circulation during 1982 as determined from pioneer cloud photopolarimeter images. 1. time and zonally averaged circulation. Icarus 73, 193–211 (1988)

    Google Scholar 

  • S.S. Limaye, J.P. Kossin, C. Rozoff, G. Piccioni, D.V. Titov, W.J. Markiewicz, Vortex circulation on Venus: Dynamical similarities with terrestrial hurricanes. Geophys. Res. Lett. 36, L04204 (2009). doi:10.1029/2008GL036093

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • E.N. Lorenz, The Nature and Theory of the General Circulation of the Atmosphere (World Meteorological Organization Monograph, Geneva, 1967)

    Google Scholar 

  • D. Luz, D.L. Berry, G. Piccioni, P. Drossart, R. Politi, C.F. Wilson, S. Erard, F. Nuccilli, Venus’s southern polar vortex reveals precessing circulation. Science 332, 577–580 (2011)

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  • E. Maillard, J.-P. abd Lellouch, J. Crovisier, C. de Bergh, B. Bezard, Carbon monoxide 4.7 μm emission: A new dynamical probe of Venus’ thermosphere. Bull. Amer. Astron. Soc. 27, 1080 (1995)

    Google Scholar 

  • W.J. Markiewicz, D. Titov, E. Petrova, N. Ignatiev, I. Khatuntsev, R. Moissl, S.S. Limaye, O. Shalygina, M. Almeida, 1500 Earth days around Venus imaging with Venus, monitoring camera on Venus Express. Presented at the VEXAG International Conference. URL http://venus.wisc.edu/workshop/VEXAG_2010_Workshop_Abstracts_%Portfolio.pdf (2010)

    Google Scholar 

  • R. Moissl, I. Khatuntsev, S.S. Limaye, D.V. Titov, W.J. Markiewicz, N.I. Ignatiev, T. Roatsch, K.-D. Matz, R. Jaumann, M. Almeida, G. Portyankina, T. Behnke, S.F. Hviid, Venus cloud top winds from tracking UV features in Venus monitoring camera images. J. Geophys. Res. 114, E00B31 (2009). doi:10.1029/2008JE003117

    Google Scholar 

  • A. Moullet, R. Moreno, E. Lellouch, H. Sagawa, M. Gurwell, Wind measurements in Venus’ upper mesosphere with the IRAM-Plateau De Bure interferometer. Bull. Am. Astron. Soc. 42, 974 (2010)

    ADS  Google Scholar 

  • M. Newman, G. Schubert, A.J. Kliore, I.R. Patel, Zonal winds in the middle atmosphere of Venus from Pioneer Venus radio occultation data. J. Atmos. Sci. 41, 1901–1913 (1984)

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  • S. Ohtsuki, N. Iwagami, H. Sagawa, M. Ueno, Y. Kasaba, T. Imamura, K. Yanagisawa, E. Nishihara, Distributions of the Venus 1.27- μ m O-2 airglow and rotational temperature. Planet Space Sci. 56, 1391–1398 (2008)

    Google Scholar 

  • J. Peralta, R. Hueso, A. Sanchez-Lavega, A reanalysis of venus winds at two cloud levels from Galileo SSI images. Icarus 190, 469–477 (2007)

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  • A. Piccialli, S. Tellmann, D. Titov, S.S. Limaye, I.V. Khatuntsev, M. Patzold, B. Haussler, Dynamical properties of the Venus mesosphere from the radio-occultation experiment Vera onboard Venus Express. Icarus 217, 669–681 (2012)

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  • P. Read, Super-rotation and diffusion of axial angular momentum: II. A review of quasi-axisymmetric models of planetary atmospheres. Quater. J. R. Met. Soc. 112, 253–272 (1986)

    Google Scholar 

  • M. Rengel, P. Hartogh, C. Jarchow, HHSMT observations of the Venusian mesospheric temperature, winds, and CO abundance around the MESSENGER flyby. Planet Space Sci. 56(13), doi:10.1016/j.pss.2008.07.014 Asia Oceania Geosci. Soc. (2008a)

    Google Scholar 

  • M. Rengel, P. Hartogh, C. Jarchow, Mesospheric vertical thermal structure and winds on Venus from HHSMT CO spectral-line observations. Planet Space Sci. 56, 1368–1384 (2008b)

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  • J. Rosenqvist, E. Lelloucj, T. Encrenaz, G. Paubert, Global circulation in Venus’ mesosphere from IRAM CO observations (1991–1994): A tribute to Jan Rosenqvist. Bull. Am. Astron. Soc. 27, 1080 (1995)

    ADS  Google Scholar 

  • W.B. Rossow, A.D. DelGenio, T. Eichler, Cloud-tracked winds from Pioneer-Venus Ocpp images. J. Atmos. Sci. 47, 2053–2084 (1990)

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  • H. Sagawa, P. Hartogh, M. Rengel, Interferometric measurements of Venus mesospheric wind using millimeter/submillimeter interferometers, in International Venus Conference, Aussois, 20–26 June 2010

    Google Scholar 

  • A. Sanchez-Lavega, R. Hueso, G. Piccioni, P. Drossart, J. Peralta, S. Perez-Hoyos, C.F. Wilson, F.W. Taylor, K.H. Baines, D. Luz, S. Erard, S. Lebonnois, Variable winds on Venus mapped in three dimensions. Geophys. Res. Lett. 35, L13204 (2008)

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  • F.P. Schloerb, S.E. Robinson, W.M. Irvine, Observations of CO in the stratosphere of Venus via its J  = O-1 rotational transition. Icarus 43, 121–127 (1980)

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  • F. Schmuelling, J. Goldstein, T. Kostiuk, T. Hewagama, D. Zipoy, High precision wind measurements in the upper Venus atmosphere. Bull. Am. Astron. Soc. 32, 1121 (2000)

    ADS  Google Scholar 

  • G. Schubert, General circulation and the dynamical state of the Venus atmosphere. Venus (1983)

    Google Scholar 

  • G. Schubert, S.W. Bougher, C.C. Covey, A.D. Del Genio, A.S. Grossman, J.L. Hollingsworth, S.S. Limaye, R.E. Young, Venus atmosphere dynamics: A continuing enigma, in Exploring Venus as a Terrestrial Planet, ed. by L.W. Esposito, E.R. Stofan, T.E. Cravens (American Geophysical Union, Washington, DC, 2007), pp. 101–120

    Chapter  Google Scholar 

  • A. Seiff, Thermal structure of the atmosphere of Venus, in Venus, ed. by D.M. Hunten, L. Colin, T.M. Donahue, V.I. Moroz (Tucson, AZ, University of Arizona Press, 1983), pp. 215–279

    Google Scholar 

  • K.P. Shah, D.O. Muhleman, G.L. Berge, Measurement of winds in Venus upper mesosphere based on doppler shifts of the 2.6-Mm (Co)-C-12 line. Icarus 93, 96–121 (1991)

    Google Scholar 

  • M.D. Smith, P.J. Gierasch, Global-scale winds at the venus cloud-top inferred from cloud streak orientations. Icarus 123, 313–323 (1996)

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  • M. Sornig, T. Livengood, G. Sonnabend, P. Kroetz, D. Stupar, T. Kostiuk, R. Schieder, Venus upper atmosphere winds from ground-based heterodyne spectroscopy of CO2 at 10 mu m wavelength. Planet Space Sci. 56, 1399–1406 (2008)

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  • L.A. Sromovsky, H.E. Revercomb, V.E. Suomi, Temperature structure in the lower atmosphere of Venus: New results derived from Pioneer Venus entry probe measurements. Icarus 62, 458–493 (1985)

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  • V.E. Suomi, (1974) Observations of cloud motions. Presented at the conference of the atmosphere of venus, Tech. Rep., Goddard Institute of Space Studies, NASA Report SP-382

    Google Scholar 

  • A. Toigo, P.J. Gierasch, M.D. Smith, High-resolution cloud feature tracking on Venus by Galileo. Icarus 109, 318–336 (1994)

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  • T. Widemann, E. Lellouch, A. Campargue, New wind measurements in Venus’ lower mesosphere from visible spectroscopy. Planet. Space Sci. 55, 1741–1756 (2007). doi:10. 1016/j.pss. 2007.01.005

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  • T. Widemann, E. Lellouch, J.-F. Donati, Venus doppler winds at cloud tops observed with ESPaDOnS at CFHT. Planet. Space Sci. 56, 1320–1334 (2008). doi:10.1016/j.pss.2008. 07.005

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  • L.V. Zasova, N. Ignatiev, I. Khatuntsev, V. Linkin, Structure of the Venus atmosphere. Planet Space Sci. 55, 1712–1728 (2007)

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  • S. Zhang, S.W. Bougher, M.J. Alexander, The impact of gravity waves on the Venus thermosphere and O-2 IR nightglow. J. Geophys. Res.-Planets 101, 23195–23205 (1996)

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Space Science and Engineering Center, University of Wisconsin, Wisconsin, USA

    Sanjay S. Limaye

  2. Max-Planck-Institut fur Sonnensystemforschung, Lindau, Germany

    Miriam Rengel

Authors
  1. Sanjay S. Limaye
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Miriam Rengel
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Sanjay S. Limaye .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. International Space Science Institute, Hallerstrasse 6, Bern, 3012, Switzerland

    Lennart Bengtsson

  2. International Space Science Institute, Hallerstrasse 6, Bern, 3012, Switzerland

    Roger-Maurice Bonnet

  3. , Department of Space Science, Denver Museum of Nature and Science, Colorado Blvd 2001, Denver, 80205, USA

    David Grinspoon

  4. Peninsular House, Risk Management Solutions Ltd, Monument Street 30, London, EC3R 8NB, United Kingdom

    Symeon Koumoutsaris

  5. Laboratoire de Meterologie Dynamique, place Jussieu 4, Paris, 75005, France

    Sebastien Lebonnois

  6. ESA-ESTEC, Postbus 299, Noordwijk, 2201, Netherlands

    Dmitri Titov

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

Copyright information

© 2013 Springer Science+Business Media New York

About this chapter

Cite this chapter

Limaye, S.S., Rengel, M. (2013). Atmospheric Circulation and Dynamics. In: Bengtsson, L., Bonnet, RM., Grinspoon, D., Koumoutsaris, S., Lebonnois, S., Titov, D. (eds) Towards Understanding the Climate of Venus. ISSI Scientific Report Series, vol 11. Springer, New York, NY. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4614-5064-1_5

Download citation

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4614-5064-1_5

  • Published:

  • Publisher Name: Springer, New York, NY

  • Print ISBN: 978-1-4614-5063-4

  • Online ISBN: 978-1-4614-5064-1

  • eBook Packages: Physics and AstronomyPhysics and Astronomy (R0)

Publish with us

Policies and ethics

Search

Navigation