The ionospheric peak on the Venus dayside

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Abstract
Many electron density profiles of the dayside ionosphere of Venus have been measured by the Pioneer Venus orbiter between December 1978 and October 1980, using the dual‐frequency radio occultation technique. The peak electron density as a function of solar zenith angle can be described by a simple Chapman layer theory with proper normalization; however, it does not predict adequately the height variation of the electron density peak. In order to interpret these radio occultation results, we have constructed a theoretical model describing the ion composition and electron density in the vicinity of the ionospheric peak. Good agreement between the model and the measurements was obtained only with a specific choice of the neutral densities, the electron temperature, and the level of solar activity.