Influence of solar-related effects and topography on the cloud top circulation above Aphrodite Terra from VMC/Venus Express wind fields

Abstract : A set of UV (365 nm) images obtained by the Venus Monitoring Camera [3] onboard ESA's Venus Express orbiter from 2006 to 2013 was used to study the circulation of the mesosphere. It was found that the surface topography influences on the behavior of the horizontal flow above Aphrodite Terra to at least 30°S. A maximum deceleration of the mean zonal flow is observed at noon above Ovda Regio (the highest region of Aphrodite Terra). We attributed the observed wind deceleration to interaction of the gravity (mountain) waves generated by Aphrodite Terra with the atmospheric circulation. The mean zonal and meridional flows at cloud top level in the equatorial region are perturbed by a solar tide at 13-14 h.