Cassini-UVIS observation of dayglow FUV emissions of carbon in the thermosphere of Venus

We analyze FUV spatially-resolved dayglow spectra obtained at 0.37 nm resolution by the UVIS instrument during the Cassini flyby of Venus. The intensities of the ultraviolet multiplets of carbon at 126.1, 156.1 and 165.7 nm are determined using a least squares fit technique applied to all dayglow spectra recorded by UVIS along the Cassini track. These intensities are compared with the results of a full radiative transfer model of these emissions, that includes the known photochemical sources of photons and resonant scattering of sunlight. The carbon density profile of the Venus thermosphere has never been directly measured and is taken from a model. We find a serious disagreement between these observations and modeling that can be accounted for by applying a scaling factor to the carbon column. This needed scaling factor is found to increase monotonically with solar zenith angle, suggesting a possible photochemical origin to the disagreement, possibly involving the photochemistry of molecular oxygen to which the carbon density is highly sensitive.

► Observation of the FUV CI emissions of Venus at high space and spectral resolution.
► The Venus thermosphere has a larger C density than suggested by previous studies.
► The C density depends on solar zenith angle in the thermosphere of Venus.