CALCULATIONS OF THE RADIATIVE AND DYNAMICAL STATE OF THE VENUS ATMOSPHERE.

Abstract

Accurate, multiple scattering calculations are carried out to determine the solar energy deposition profile in the atmosphere of Venus. It is found that most of the absorbed energy is deposited in the main cloud layer region, located at altitudes above 35 km, and that the ground receives approximately 3% of the total energy absorbed by venus. Vertical temperature profiles are then computed under conditions of pure radiative equilibrium and radiative-convective equilibrium. Since the latter results satisfactorily match the temperature structure determined from various spacecraft observations, it is inferred that the greenhouse effect can account for the high surface temperature. Finally, preliminary three-dimensional calculations of the general circulation of the atmosphere are discussed that incorporate the results of the radiative calculations.