Plasma clouds and the intermediate transition in the Venus ionosheath

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Abstract Plasma and magnetic field PVO measurements are described to examine the relative position of the intermediate transition and ionospheric plasma clouds in the Venus ionosheath. Examples show that both features occur as different events and that plasma clouds are observed at altitudes lower than that of the intermediate transition. In a set of PVO passes in which there is evidence of both events it is found that the intermediate transition represents the outer boundary of the region where plasma clouds are observed. The magnetic field of the solar wind experiences different changes in both cases. Across the intermediate transition there is a strong rotation of the magnetic field direction and also a decrease of the magnetic field intensity to low values which extend throughout most of the inner ionosheath. Different values of the intensity and orientation of the magnetic field are observed mostly in the vicinity of plasma clouds.