Electrical discharges in the atmosphere of Venus

A preliminary analysis is reported of some results obtained by recording electrical activity in the Venus atmosphere on the Venera 11 and 12 descent probes. The low-frequency electromagnetic radiation of the Venus atmosphere, here detected for the first time, is evidently produced by electrical discharges at 50--70 km height in the cloud layer. The energy of the discharges is comparable with that released in terrestrial lightning. One thunderstorm area extended about 150 km laterally and 2 km vertically. Discharges may occur at a rate of 20 sec/sup -1/ or more, far faster than on the earth. At the time of observation, the electrical activity on Venus was local, not global, in character.