Abstract
In this paper we examine the observational basis for Kuiper's (1969) conclusion that the upper cloud layers of Venus are composed of dihydrated ferrous chloride particles. Using new spectrophotometric observations of Venus, we find that there is no strong evidence for the Fe2+ electronic band near 1 μm as deduced by Kuiper from the photometry of Venus by Irvine et al. (1968). Evidence for an absorption band on Venus near 0.5 μm is found to be valid, but nondefinitive in terms of the identification of ferrous iron. An absorption band near 0.39 μm appearing in the Venus photometric data of Irvine et al. (1968) is judged to be unreliable as an indicator of chemical composition because of time-dependent variations in the violet and ultraviolet clouds and spectrum of Venus. In conclusion, we find that the evidence for dihydrated ferrous chloride in the atmosphere of Venus is inconclusive.
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