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Detailed Reference Information
Shepard et al. 1994
Shepard, M.K., Arvidson, R.E., Brackett, R.A. and Fegley, B. (1994). A ferroelectric model for the low emissivity highlands on Venus. Geophysical Research Letters 21: doi: 10.1029/94GL00392. issn: 0094-8276.

A model to explain the low emissivity venusian highlands is proposed utilizing the temperature-dependent dielectric constant of ferroelectric minerals. Ferroelectric minerals are known to occur in alkaline and carbonatite rocks, both of which are plausible for Venus. Ferroelectric minerals possess extremely high dielectric constants (105) over small temperature intervals and are only required in minor (≪1%) abundances to explain the observed emissivities. The ferroelectric model can account for: (1) the observed reduction in emissivity with increased altitude, (2) the abrupt return to normal emissivities at highest elevations, and (3) the variations in the critical elevation observed from region to region.

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Abstract

Keywords
Planetology, Solid Surface Planets and Satellites, Surfaces, Planetology, Solid Surface Planets and Satellites, Composition, Radio Science, Radar astronomy, Radio Science, Remote sensing
Journal
Geophysical Research Letters
http://www.agu.org/journals/gl/
Publisher
American Geophysical Union
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