Articles | Volume 14, issue 5
https://doi.org/10.5194/npg-14-641-2007
https://doi.org/10.5194/npg-14-641-2007
18 Oct 2007
18 Oct 2007

Venus atmosphere profile from a maximum entropy principle

L. N. Epele, H. Fanchiotti, C. A. García Canal, A. F. Pacheco, and J. Sañudo

Abstract. The variational method with constraints recently developed by Verkley and Gerkema to describe maximum-entropy atmospheric profiles is generalized to ideal gases but with temperature-dependent specific heats. In so doing, an extended and non standard potential temperature is introduced that is well suited for tackling the problem under consideration. This new formalism is successfully applied to the atmosphere of Venus. Three well defined regions emerge in this atmosphere up to a height of 100 km from the surface: the lowest one up to about 35 km is adiabatic, a transition layer located at the height of the cloud deck and finally a third region which is practically isothermal.