Dynamical effect on the Venusian thermal structure simulated by a general circulation model
<div class="page" title="Page 2"> <div class="layoutArea"> <div class="column"> <p>Distributions of temperature and static stability in the Venus atmosphere consistent with&#160;recent radio occultation measurements are reproduced using a general circulation model.&#160;A low-stability layer is maintained at low- and mid-latitudes at 50&#8211;60 km altitude and&#160;is sandwiched by high- and moderate-stability layers extending above 60 and below 50 &#160;km, respectively. In the polar region, the low-stability layer is located at 46&#8211;63 km altitude and the relatively low-stability layer is also found at 40&#8211;46 km altitude. To investigate how these thermal structures form, we examine the dynamical effects of the atmospheric motions on the static stability below 65 km altitude. The results show that&#160;the heat transport due to the mean meridional circulation is important at low-latitudes.&#160;At mid- and high-latitudes, meanwhile, the baroclinic Rossby-type wave plays an important role in maintaining the thermal structure. In addition, appreciable equatorward heat&#160;transport is found to maintain the deep and low-stability layer in the polar region, which&#160;might be induced by the interaction between the baroclinic Rossby-type wave in the low-stability layer and the trapped Rossby-type wave below it.</p> </div> </div> </div>