Ion clusters and the Venus ultraviolet haze layer

Abstract

The daytime ionosphere of Venus is observed between 100 and 500 km altitude. Below 200 km, CO2(+) is thought to be the principal ion unless oxygen is present. It was suggested that at altitudes less than 130 km the ion CO2(+)-CO2 is an important ionic constituent of the Venus ionosphere. Below 100 km, ion clustering processes combine with the low temperature at the mesopause to form coagulates giving rise to the ultraviolet haze layer which is frequently observed.