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Little or no solar wind enters Venus’ atmosphere at solar minimum

Author

Listed:
  • T. L. Zhang

    (Space Research Institute
    State Key Laboratory of Space Weather, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 100080 China)

  • M. Delva

    (Space Research Institute)

  • W. Baumjohann

    (Space Research Institute)

  • H.-U. Auster

    (Institut für Geophysik und Extraterrestrische Physik,)

  • C. Carr

    (Imperial College)

  • C. T. Russell

    (IGPP, University of California, Los Angeles, California 90095, USA)

  • S. Barabash

    (Swedish Institute of Space Physics)

  • M. Balikhin

    (University of Sheffield)

  • K. Kudela

    (Institute of Experimental Physics, Slovakia Academy of Sciences, Kosice, 04353 Slovakia)

  • G. Berghofer

    (Space Research Institute)

  • H. K. Biernat

    (Space Research Institute)

  • H. Lammer

    (Space Research Institute)

  • H. Lichtenegger

    (Space Research Institute)

  • W. Magnes

    (Space Research Institute)

  • R. Nakamura

    (Space Research Institute)

  • K. Schwingenschuh

    (Space Research Institute)

  • M. Volwerk

    (Space Research Institute)

  • Z. Vörös

    (Space Research Institute)

  • W. Zambelli

    (Space Research Institute)

  • K.-H. Fornacon

    (Institut für Geophysik und Extraterrestrische Physik,)

  • K.-H. Glassmeier

    (Institut für Geophysik und Extraterrestrische Physik,)

  • I. Richter

    (Institut für Geophysik und Extraterrestrische Physik,)

  • A. Balogh

    (Imperial College)

  • H. Schwarzl

    (IGPP, University of California, Los Angeles, California 90095, USA)

  • S. A. Pope

    (University of Sheffield)

  • J. K. Shi

    (State Key Laboratory of Space Weather, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 100080 China)

  • C. Wang

    (State Key Laboratory of Space Weather, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 100080 China)

  • U. Motschmann

    (Institut für Theoretische Physik, TU Braunschweig, D-3300 Germany)

  • J.-P. Lebreton

    (RSSD-ESTEC)

Abstract

Venus has no significant internal magnetic field1, which allows the solar wind to interact directly with its atmosphere2,3. A field is induced in this interaction, which partially shields the atmosphere, but we have no knowledge of how effective that shield is at solar minimum. (Our current knowledge of the solar wind interaction with Venus is derived from measurements at solar maximum3,4,5,6.) The bow shock is close to the planet, meaning that it is possible that some solar wind could be absorbed by the atmosphere and contribute to the evolution of the atmosphere7,8. Here we report magnetic field measurements from the Venus Express spacecraft3 in the plasma environment surrounding Venus. The bow shock under low solar activity conditions seems to be in the position that would be expected from a complete deflection by a magnetized ionosphere9. Therefore little solar wind enters the Venus ionosphere even at solar minimum.

Suggested Citation

  • T. L. Zhang & M. Delva & W. Baumjohann & H.-U. Auster & C. Carr & C. T. Russell & S. Barabash & M. Balikhin & K. Kudela & G. Berghofer & H. K. Biernat & H. Lammer & H. Lichtenegger & W. Magnes & R. Na, 2007. "Little or no solar wind enters Venus’ atmosphere at solar minimum," Nature, Nature, vol. 450(7170), pages 654-656, November.
    • Handle: RePEc:nat:nature:v:450:y:2007:i:7170:d:10.1038_nature06026
    DOI: 10.1038/nature06026
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