Implications of Preliminary VEGA Balloon Results for the Venus Atmosphere Dynamics

Abstract

The typical 1-2 m/sec vertical winds encountered by the Vega balloons probably result from thermal convection. The consistent 6.5-kelvin differential between the Vega 1 and Vega 2 temperatures is attributable to disturbances of synoptic or planetary scale. According to the Doppler tracking the winds were stronger than on earlier missions, perhaps because of solar thermal tides. The motions of Vega 2 may have been affected by waves from mountainous terrain.

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