Publication Abstracts
Hansen and Hovenier 1974
, and J.W. Hovenier, 1974: Interpretation of the polarization of Venus. J. Atmos. Sci., 31, 1137-1160, doi:10.1175/1520-0469(1974)031<1137:IOTPOV>2.0.CO;2.
The linear polarization of sunlight reflected by Venus is analyzed by comparing observations with extensive multiple scattering computations. The analysis establishes that Venus is veiled by a cloud or haze layer of spherical particles. The refractive index of the particles is 1.44±0.015 at λ = 0.55 µm with a normal dispersion, the refractive index decreasing from 1.46±0.015 at λ = 0.365 µm to 1.43±0.015 at λ = 0.99 µm. The cloud particles have a narrow size distribution with a mean radius of ∼1 µm specifically, the effective radius of the size distribution is 1.05±0.10 µm and the effective variance is 0.07±0.02. The particles exists at a high level in the atmosphere, with the optical thickness unity occurring where the pressure is about 50 mb.
The particle properties deduced from the polarization eliminate all but one of the cloud compositions which have proposed for Venus. A concentrated solution of sulfuric acid (H2SO4-H2O) provides good agreement with the polarization data.
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BibTeX Citation
@article{ha08500r,
author={Hansen, J. E. and Hovenier, J. W.},
title={Interpretation of the polarization of Venus},
year={1974},
journal={Journal of the Atmospheric Sciences},
volume={31},
pages={1137--1160},
doi={10.1175/1520-0469(1974)031%3C1137%3AIOTPOV%3E2.0.CO;2},
}
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RIS Citation
TY - JOUR ID - ha08500r AU - Hansen, J. E. AU - Hovenier, J. W. PY - 1974 TI - Interpretation of the polarization of Venus JA - J. Atmos. Sci. JO - Journal of the Atmospheric Sciences VL - 31 SP - 1137 EP - 1160 DO - 10.1175/1520-0469(1974)031%3C1137%3AIOTPOV%3E2.0.CO;2 ER -
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