X band model of Venus atmosphere permittivity

Abstract

[1] A model of Venus' atmosphere permittivity profile up to 300 km is developed in this paper for X band. The model includes both the real and imaginary parts of the atmospheric permittivity, derived using data sets inferred or directly measured from past exploration missions to Venus: the real part is obtained by calculating the total polarization of the mixture of the atmospheric components including CO2, N2, H2O, SO2, H2SO4, CO, etc.; the imaginary part is derived using the superposition of the absorption of each component. The properties of the atmospheric components such as polarization and absorption are modeled with respect to frequency, temperature, and pressure. The validity of this model is verified by comparing simulation results with available measurements of Venus' atmosphere. This permittivity model is intended as a critical tool for the design of next-generation orbiting radar systems, in particular interferometric radars.