Studies on the dynamics of Venus ionosphere: Effects of varying the ionopause height and the onset of turbulence

Abstract

The conservation equations of plasma dynamics in the upper ionosphere of Venus have been solved by using a spectral method in the horizontal and finite differencing in the vertical direction. The effect of varying the ionoapause height on the computed nightside ion densities is investigated. These ion densities show a sharp decrease as the ionopause altitude is reduced to 300 km. The effect of viscous forces on the horizontal plasma flow is investigated for a wide range of values of the coefficient of viscosity. The Reynolds numbers characteristics of the flow are calculated and the conditions for the onset of the turbulence discussed. It is found that the Reynolds number can be large (&gt;1000) in the subsolar region for a coefficient of viscosity of <i>h</i>₀ <img src='http://www.niscair.res.in/jinfo/lessequals.gif' border=0> 1.6 x 10^-10 gcm^-1s^-1. The influence of magnetic fields on viscosity is also discussed.