D. Nevejans

A warm layer in Venus' cryosphere and high-altitude measurements of HF, HCl, H2O and HDO

Venus has thick clouds of H2SO4 aerosol particles extending from altitudes of 40 to 60 km. The 60–100 km region (the mesosphere) is a transition region between the 4 day retrograde superrotation at the top of the thick clouds and the solar–antisolar circulation in the thermosphere (above 100 km), which has upwelling over the subsolar point and transport to the nightside. The mesosphere has a light haze of variable optical thickness, with CO, SO2, HCl, HF, H2O and HDO as the most important minor gaseous constituents, but the vertical distribution of the haze and molecules is poorly known because previous descent probes began their measurements at or below 60 km. Here we report the detection of an extensive layer of warm air at altitudes 90–120 km on the night side that we interpret as the result of adiabatic heating during air subsidence. Such a strong temperature inversion was not expected, because the night side of Venus was otherwise so cold that it was named the ‘cryosphere’ above 100 km. We also measured the mesospheric distributions of HF, HCl, H2O and HDO. HCl is less abundant than reported 40 years ago. HDO/H2O is enhanced by a factor of ∼2.5 with respect to the lower atmosphere, and there is a general depletion of H2O around 80–90 km for which we have no explanation.

In-flight performance and calibration of SPICAV SOIR onboard Venus Express

Solar occultation in the infrared, part of the Spectoscopy for Investigation of Characteristics of the Atmosphere of Venus (SPICAV) instrument onboard Venus Express, combines an echelle grating spectrometer with an acousto-optic tunable filter (AOTF). It performs solar occultation measurements in the IR region at high spectral resolution. The wavelength range probed allows a detailed chemical inventory of Venuss atmosphere above the cloud layer, highlighting the vertical distribution of gases. A general description of the instrument and its in-flight performance is given. Different calibrations and data corrections are investigated, in particular the dark current and thermal background, the nonlinearity and pixel-to-pixel variability of the detector, the sensitivity of the instrument, the AOTF properties, and the spectral calibration and resolution.

Stratospheric positive ion composition measurements, ion abundances and related trace gas detection

Abstract Positive ion spectra obtained from measurements with a balloon-borne mass spectrometer during three balloon flights are critically investigated and compared with other data. Ion abundances for proton hydrates [H+(H2O)n ions] at different stratospheric temperatures are compared, as well as the abundances of non proton hydrates H+Xitl(H2O)m, X being most likely CH3CN. The detection of trace gases from ion composition measurements is discussed and an upper limit for the number densities of minor constituents such as NH3 and CH3OH is estimated at 35 km. Although sodium compounds cannot be responsible for the major positive ions, a closer investigation of high resolution daytime spectra suggests a small contribution of sodium in daytime ion chemistry.

Negative ion composition and sulfuric acid vapour in the upper stratosphere

Abstract The nature of negative ions in the altitude region 42–45 km has been investigated by means of a balloon borne mass spectrometer. Apart from the NO3− and HSO4− clusters, ions with different cores, which can be identified as CO3−, HCO3−, Cl− and ClO3− were observed. The spectra have been used to estimate the sulfuric acid number density at 45.2 and 42.3 km altitude.

Osiris - The optical, spectroscopic and infrared remote imaging system for the Rosetta orbiter

The scientific objectives, design, and implementation of the Optical, Spectroscopic, and Infrared Remote Imaging System (OSIRIS) for the International Rosetta Mission are described. The instrument comprises two camera systems with a common electronics box. A narrow angle camera will provide high resolution images of the structure and morphology of the nucleus of a comet. A wide angle camera with high straylight rejection and dynamic range will be used to investigate the innermost coma and the emission process at the surface of the comet. An infrared imaging system, which dramatically enhances the scientific return has been included in the narrow angle camera at little extra cost.

Stratospheric positive ion composition measurements and acetonitrile detection: a consistent picture?

Abstract An overview is given of the positive ion composition measurements performed with balloon-borne ion mass spectrometers in the Earths atmosphere between 20 and 45 km. In particular, attention is paid to the derivation of the acetonitrile volume mixing ratio profile. The results are compared with model calculations, data obtained with airplane-borne instruments, and ground-level samplings. The consistency of the present picture is verified. The comparison with results of recent laboratory experiments show that electric field-induced collisional dissociation occurs in balloon-borne ion mass spectrometers. Probably, this is one of the major causes for the observed discrepancies between the data of airplane- and balloon-borne instruments.

NOMAD spectrometer on the ExoMars trace gas orbiter mission: part 1—design, manufacturing and testing of the infrared channels

NOMAD is a spectrometer suite on board ESAs ExoMars trace gas orbiter due for launch in January 2016. NOMAD consists of two infrared channels and one ultraviolet and visible channel allowing the instrument to perform observations quasi-constantly, by taking nadir measurements at dayside and nightside, and during solar occultations. In this paper, the design, manufacturing, and testing of the two infrared channels are described. We focus upon the optical working principle in these channels, where an echelle grating, used as a diffractive element, is combined with an acousto-optical tunable filter, used as a diffraction order sorter.

Venus Express: highlights of the nominal mission

Venus Express is the first European (ESA) mission to the planet Venus. Its main science goal is to carry out a global survey of the atmosphere, the plasma environment, and the surface of Venus from orbit. The payload consists of seven experiments. It includes a powerful suite of remote sensing imagers and spectrometers, instruments for in-situ investigation of the circumplanetary plasma and magnetic field, and a radio science experiment. The spacecraft, based on the Mars Express bus modified for the conditions at Venus, provides a versatile platform for nadir and limb observations as well as solar, stellar, and radio occultations. In April 2006 Venus Express was inserted in an elliptical polar orbit around Venus, with a pericentre height of ∼250 km and apocentre distance of ∼66000 km and an orbital period of 24 hours. The nominal mission lasted from June 4, 2006 till October 2, 2007, which corresponds to about two Venus sidereal days. Here we present an overview of the main results of the nominal mission, based on a set of papers recently published in Nature, Icarus, Planetary and Space Science, and Geophysical Research Letters.

Liquid helium cryopump and reliable opening device for a balloon‐borne mass spectrometer

The design, technical characteristics, and test and flight results of a liquid helium cryopump and an opening device operating on board a balloon-borne mass spectrometer combining a cryopump and a quadrupole mass filter are reported. The gas inlet of this mass spectrometer is opened through a simple and reliable remote-controlled system, which is also described.

Stratospheric chemical ionization mass spectrometry: nitric acid detection by different ion molecule reaction schemes

Abstract Detailed height profiles of stratospheric nitric acid mixing ratios have been derived with a baloon borne chemical ionization mass spectrometer by applying several ion molecule reaction schemes, each associated to a specific and selective ion source. These ions (CO 3 − , Cl n − , CF 3 O − , and CF 3 O − H 2 O) give rise to specific product ions (mainly CO 3 − HNO 3 , NO 3 − HCl, NO 3 − HF, and CF 3 O − HNO 3 ) upon reaction with ambient nitric acid molecules. This paper reports on the instrumental details as well as on the results obtained during two balloon flights with the instrument. Within the accuracy of the measurements, the nitric acid height profiles obtained with the three different ion sources are in good agreement with one another as well as with literature data.