HHSMT Observations of the Venusian Mesospheric Temperature, Winds, and CO abundance around the MESSENGER Flyby

TL;DR

This study uses submillimeter observations from HHSMT during the MESSENGER flyby to analyze Venus's mesosphere, providing temperature, wind, and CO distribution data to enhance understanding of its atmospheric circulation.

Contribution

It offers new ground-based submillimeter measurements of Venus's mesosphere during a spacecraft flyby, aiding calibration and atmospheric modeling efforts.

Findings

Preliminary temperature and CO abundance profiles derived.

Data support cross-calibration between space and ground observations.

Insights into Venusian atmospheric circulation patterns.

Abstract

We present submillimeter observations of 12CO J=3-2 and J=2-1, and 13CO J = 2-1 lines of the Venusian mesosphere and lower thermosphere with the Heinrich Hertz Submillimeter Telescope (HHSMT) taken around the second MESSENGER flyby of Venus on 5 June 2007. The observations cover a range of Venus solar elongations with different fractional disk illuminations. Preliminary results like temperature and CO abundance profiles are presented.These data are part of a coordinated observational campaign in support of the ESA Venus Express mission. Furthermore, this study attempts to contribute to cross-calibrate space- and ground-based observations, to constrain radiative transfer and retrieval algorithms for planetary atmospheres, and to a more thorough understanding of the global patters of circulation of the Venusian atmosphere.