Diurnal variations in optical depth at Mars

Details Diurnal variations in optical depth at Mars Diurnal variations in optical depth at Mars

May 1989

adsabs.harvard.edu/cgi-bin/nph-data_query?bibcode=1989icar...79..159c&link_type=abstract

Icarus (ISSN 0019-1035), vol. 79, May 1989, p. 159-189. Previously announced in STAR as N88-25420.

Mathematics

97

Diurnal Variations, Mars Atmosphere, Mathematical Models, Optical Thickness, Temperature Profiles, Condensing, Evaporation, Optical Measurement, Time Series Analysis, Water Vapor, Mars, Diurnal Variations, Optical Properties, Depth, Viking Missions, Spacecraft Observations, Atmosphere, Water Vapor, Aerosols, Evaporation, Simulations, Models, Temperature, Mawd Instrument, Condensation, Data, Latitude, Altitude, Seasonal Variations, Landers, Orbiters, Comparisons

Scientific paper

Viking lander camera images of the Sun were used to compute atmospheric optical depth at two sites over a period of 1 to 1/3 martian years. The complete set of 1044 optical depth determinations is presented in graphical and tabular form. Error estimates are presented in detail. Otpical depths in the morning (AM) are generally larger than in the afternoon (PM). The AM-PM differences are ascribed to condensation of water vapor into atmospheric ice aerosols at night and their evaporation in midday. A smoothed time series of these differences shows several seasonal peaks. These are simulated using a one-dimensional radiative convective model which predicts martial atmospheric temperature profiles. A calculation combinig these profiles with water vapor measurements from the Mars Atmospheric Water Detector is used to predict when the diurnal variations of water condensation should occur. The model reproduces a majority of the observed peaks and shows the factors influencing the process. Diurnal variation of condensation is shown to peak when the latitude and season combine to warm the atmosphere to the optimum temperature, cool enough to condense vapor at night and warm enough to cause evaporation at midday.

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