The identification of the fluctuation effects related to the turbulence and “permanent” layers in the atmosphere of Venus from radio occultation data

Abstract

The results of cross-correlation analysis of the amplitude fluctuations of radio waves of the λ = 32 cm band in seven sessions of radio occultation measurements of the northern polar atmosphere of the planet are presented. The existence of the cross-correlation of fluctuations (bχ � 0.6–0.7) is established in the altitude realizations in the interval 61.5–65.0 km for four different sessions of radio occultations. Inner layering is revealed in the upper layer of the clouds of the planet at altitudes of 61.5–65.0 km, which is specified by an enhanced turbulence of the atmosphere. It is found that the “lifetime” of the small-scale layered irregularities is no less than two days and that their horizontal extension in the meridional direction can exceed ∼130 km. A possible cause of the emergence of the layered structures inside the upper layer of the polar clouds of Venus is discussed.