Recovery and Validation of Venus Ionospheric Electron Density Profiles from Pioneer Venus Orbiter Radio Occultation Observations

Abstract

Abstract The Pioneer Venus Orbiter radio occultation experiment acquired vertical profiles of electron density in the ionosphere of Venus. These profiles were not readily accessible to researchers. Here we report the recovery and validation of a set of electron density profiles from Pioneer Venus Orbiter. More than 200 profiles spanning solar zenith angles of 30°–170° were deemed acceptable for scientific analysis. These profiles sample solar minimum, moderate, and maximum conditions. The profiles are publicly available and ready for use in scientific investigations of the ionosphere of Venus and related topics.