Article

Diagnostic calculations of the circulation in the Martian atmosphere

02/1993;
Source: NTRS

ABSTRACT The circulation of the martian atmosphere during late southern summer is inferred from observed atmospheric temperature and dust distributions. We use global maps of temperature and dust optical depth (approximately 0-60 km) retrieved from a subset of the Mariner 9 IRIS thermal emission spectra spanning L(sub s) equals 343-348 deg. This thermal structure is characterized by a reversed meridional temperature gradient at altitudes above about 40 km, and temperatures that decrease from equator to pole at lower altitudes. Zonal-mean zonal winds are derived from the zonally averaged temperatures assuming gradient wind balance and midlatitude westerly jets with velocities of 80-90 m s(exp -1) near 50 km; in the southern tropics the winds are easterly with velocities of 40 m s(exp -1) near 50 km. The north-south atmospheric transport includes contributions from both the zonal mean meridional circulation and large-scale waves.

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Keywords

atmospheric temperature
 
dust distributions
 
equator
 
gradient wind balance
 
large-scale waves
 
Mariner 9 IRIS thermal emission spectra spanning L(sub s)
 
martian atmosphere
 
meridional circulation
 
north-south atmospheric transport
 
reversed meridional temperature gradient
 
southern summer
 
southern tropics
 
temperatures
 
thermal structure
 
winds
 
Zonal-mean zonal winds