Untersuchung der Variabilität der Mars Neutralatmosphäre in Abhängigkeit vom Tagesverlauf und den Jahreszeiten
Final Report Abstract
The Martian lower atmosphere has been studied using the atmospheric data set from the Radio Science experiment MaRS on Mars Express. This data set consists of more than 500 temperature, pressure and neutral number density profiles covering both hemispheres and almost all seasons and local times. The MaRS data set was put in context to general circulation model data and other experimental data (MGS radio occultation profiles and atmospheric data from the Mars Climate Sounder (MCS) on the Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter). The exceptional high vertical resolution of the MaRS observations provides the opportunity to study several still poorly understood characteristics of the Martian atmosphere. This project provided significant insight into several crucial features of the Martian atmosphere: • The temperature structure in the polar regions in correlation with the condensation and sublimation of CO2. The investigations revealed that the strong CO2 condensation close to the surface is overestimated in the GCM models and is balanced by transport processes from the mid latitude range. • The boundary layer structure can only be resolved by radio occultation and in situ measurements. It is shown that the boundary layer structure is strongly correlated with the topography of Mars. The daytime temperature gradient in the boundary layer is almost adiabatic while the night time atmosphere shows deep temperature inversions. • Deep temperature inversions are also studied in other regions. The midlatitude range shows temperature inversions at high altitudes resulting from strong zonal winds in this region, while the tropics show deep inversions in the lower altitude range revealing a strong coupling between thermal tides and water ice clouds. • Hemispheric differences in the temperature structure are investigated especially in the polar latitudes, revealing much deeper CO2 condensations in the low lying northern hemisphere. This feature is found in all Mars years covered so far by the MaRS experiment. • Small scale vertical temperature fluctuations resulting from gravity waves were studied. Gravity waves occur most frequently during the northern spring and summer seasons in the low latitude range.
Publications
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(2008). Radio Occultation Measurements and MGCM Simulations of Kelvin Waves on Mars. Icarus, 193, 125-138
Hinson, D.P., M. Pätzold, R.J. Wilson, B. Häusler, S. Tellmann, and G.L. Tyler
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(2008). The depth of the convective boundary layer on Mars. Icarus, 198, Issue 1, 57-66
Hinson, D.P., M. Pätzold, S. Tellmann, B. Häusler, and G.L. Tyler
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AEF, Freiburg, Germany. Untersuchungen der Mars Neutralatmosphäre durch das Radio Science Experiment MaRS auf Mars Express
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COSPAR, Montreal, Canada. The Martian neutral atmosphere from the Radio Science Experiment MaRS on Mars Express
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EGU, Vienna, Austria. The Martian neutral atmosphere from the Radio Science Experiment MaRS on Mars Express
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EUROPLANET, Münster, Germany. The Martian neutral atmosphere from the Radio Science Experiment MaRS on Mars Express
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AOGS, Singapore. Investigations of the Martian Neutral Atmosphere from the Radio Science Experiment MaRS on Mars Express
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DPS, Puerto Rico. Investigations of the Martian Neutral Atmosphere from the Radio Science Experiment MaRS on Mars Express
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EUROPLANET, Potsdam. The Martian lower atmosphere as seen by the Radio Science Experiment MaRS on Mars Express
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MPEB, Seattle, USA. The Polar Atmosphere as seen by the Radio Science Experiment MaRS on Mars Express
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AEF, Bonn, Germany. Untersuchungen der Mars Neutralatmosphäre durch das Radio Science Experiment MaRS auf Mars Express
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COSPAR, Bremen, Germany. The Martian neutral atmosphere from the Radio Science Experiment MaRS on Mars Express
