The Martian upper atmosphere structure from the Viking spacecraft experiments

Details The Martian upper atmosphere structure from the Viking spacecraft experiments The Martian upper atmosphere structure from the Viking spacecraft experiments

Nov 1978

adsabs.harvard.edu/cgi-bin/nph-data_query?bibcode=1978icar...36..189i&link_type=abstract

Icarus, vol. 36, Nov. 1978, p. 189-197.

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Atmospheric Composition, Mars Atmosphere, Spaceborne Experiments, Upper Atmosphere, Viking Lander Spacecraft, Atmospheric Temperature, Data Processing, Diffusivity, Gravity Waves, Mass Spectroscopy, Turbulent Diffusion, Vertical Distribution, Mars, Atmosphere, Gases, Diffusion, Thermosphere, Viking 1 Lander, Carbon Dioxide, Gravitational Coefficients, Helium, Composition, Cloud Heights, Viking 2 Lander, Temperatures

Scientific paper

The temperature height profile calculated for Mars by McElroy et al. (1976) on the basis of Viking lander data is examined, along with height profiles of atmospheric component concentrations measured during descent of the landers. Thermospheric temperatures of 180 + or 40 K for the Viking 1 descent and 130 + or - 30 K for the Viking 2 descent are estimated. An eddy-diffusion-coefficient height profile is calculated, the values obtained by McElroy et al. for the eddy diffusion coefficient are considered to have been computed with too large an error and overestimated at heights of 140 to 170 km, and it is shown that molecular-diffusion-coefficient height profiles determined with a constant temperature and a constant eddy diffusion coefficient better describe the experimental data. The Viking data are compared with results of other experiments and models. It is concluded that the eddy diffusion coefficients during the Viking experiment at heights of 100 to 150 km were equal to 50 million per sq cm/sec and were likely to decrease at higher altitudes.

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