# # Program information file # PROGRAM_ID 2021A015 PROGRAM_TITLE The thermal structure of Venus' mesosphere from high resolution observations of CO2 lines PROGRAM_INV1 Rohini Giles PROGRAM_INV2 Thomas Greathouse PROGRAM_INV3 Therese Encrenaz PROGRAM_INV4 Amanda Brecht PROGRAM_INV5 Kandis Lea Jessup PROGRAM_SCICAT solar system PROGRAM_ABSTRACT_BEG We propose TEXES observations to study the thermal structure of Venus' mesosphere. A comprehensive understanding of the thermal profile near the cloud tops is crucial in studying the planet's dynamics, including the extreme super-rotation that causes the cloud tops to rotate 60-80 times faster than the planetary body itself. We will use the TEXES instrument in MAP mode to make high-resolution measurements of CO2 absorption lines at 790-795 cm-1 across the entire planetary disk. These measurements will be inverted using the NEMESIS retrieval algorithm, in order to produce a three-dimensional map of the temperature profile at 60-85 km. This will be used to search for spatial variability, including large- and small-scale atmospheric waves. By repeating these measurements on both short and long timescales, we will also study the temporal variability in the thermal structure. PROGRAM_ABSTRACT_END