Radio Scintillations observed during Venus Express radio occultation measurements

Radio occultation measurements conducted at Venus have yielded invaluable insights into the atmospheric properties of the planet. Among the intriguing phenomena observed during these measurements is radio scintillation, marked by rapid fluctuations in signal intensity. These scintillations arise from small-scale irregularities in the refractive index, which are associated with corresponding variations in atmospheric density. One possible cause of these variations is the presence of vertical propagating internal gravity waves.

The frequency-dependent nature of radio scintillations has been observed at altitudes characterized by enhanced atmospheric stability, where the propagation of gravity waves is facilitated. Thus, gravity waves offer a plausible explanation for the occurrence of radio scintillations. Analyzing radio scintillations provides valuable information regarding the intensity and global distribution of gravity waves.

During the period from 2006 to 2014, the Venus Express mission probed the atmosphere of Venus using X- and S-band radio waves. In this study, we present the characteristics of radio scintillations observed in the X- and S-band radio signals from Venus Express. Additionally, we examine latitudinal and temporal variations and compare them with the variations evident in temperature profiles derived from Venus Express radio occultation measurements. Furthermore, we offer comparisons with previous observations of radio scintillations.