Analysis of Spectrophotometric Observations of Venus in the 3–4 Micron Region

Spectrophotometric data of Venus in the 3–4 µm region are analyzed in the context of current ideas concerning the cloud properties. The results show that a homogeneous cloud model, using a unimodal particle size distribution compatible with the results of previous polarization studies, cannot satisfactorily explain the infrared observations. Assuming a composition of 75% H2SO4, agreement is possible if an upper layer of smaller particles (r ≈0.4 µm, τ ≈ 0.2) is added to the homogeneous cloud. This inhomogeneous cloud structure, however, is not in agreement with the polarization results. Other models, involving bimodal particle size distributions, were also unsuccessful in explaining both sets of observations in a consistent manner.