ALERA-V Version 1.0: An Objective Analysis Dataset of the Venus Atmosphere

An objective analysis dataset of the Venus atmosphere, ALERA-V version 1.0, has been released. This objective analysis provides the best estimate of the state of the Venus atmosphere produced by combining observations and a forecast model weighted according to their respective levels of uncertainty.

The accumulation of frequent observations by the Venus Climate Orbiter ‘Akatsuki’ has, for the first time, enabled an objective analysis of the Venus atmosphere.

ALERA-V stands for AFES-LETKF experimental ensemble objective (re)analysis of the Venus atmosphere, and is generated by ALEDAS-V, the AFES-LETKF data assimilation system for the Venus atmosphere. ALEDAS-V uses AFES-Venus (Atmospheric General Circulation Model for the Earth Simulator for Venus) as a forecast model and the LETKF (Local Ensemble Transform Kalman Filter) for data assimilation.

The observations of the zonal and meridional winds obtained by a cloud tracking technique from images taken by Akatsuki’s UVI (Ultraviolet Imager) are assimilated to produce ALERA-V version 1.0.

The dataset consists of atmospheric variables defined on a grid of 128 longitude and 64 latitude points, and 60 vertical levels, with output every 6 Earth hours from September to December 2018, including the intensive observation period of November.

ALERA-V is expected to be useful for both scientific and engineering research, such as understanding the dynamical mechanisms of various atmospheric phenomena and planning for future satellite missions, with appropriate consideration of its quality and limitations.

ALERA-V Version 1.0: An Objective Analysis Dataset of the Venus Atmosphere, Geoscience Data Journal (open access)

Astrobiology,