Martian Dust Storms: 1999 MOC Observations

Details Martian Dust Storms: 1999 MOC Observations Martian Dust Storms: 1999 MOC Observations

Aug 2000

adsabs.harvard.edu/cgi-bin/nph-data_query?bibcode=2000mpse.conf...20c&link_type=abstract

International Conference on Mars Polar Science and Exploration, p. 20

Physics

Mars (Planet), Dust Storms, Mars Environment, Mars Surface, Polar Regions, Mars Global Surveyor, Mars Climate Orbiter

Scientific paper

The Mars Orbiter Camera (MOC) on board the Mars Global Surveyor (MGS) from March 9, 1999 (Ls = 107.27 deg, the areocentric longitude of the Sun measured in degrees from Mars' northern spring equinox) to December 14,1999 (Ls = 262.78 deg) has obtained daily global maps of the Martian surface at a resolution of 7.5 km/pixel in two wavelength bands: violet (400-450 nm) and red (575-625 nm). Visual inspection of these maps during the 1999 dust storm season has resulted in the detection of 764 dust storms, ranging in size from "local" (> 102 sq km) to "regional" (> 106 sq km) storms. Of the 764 dust storm, 237 (31 percent) were observed at a latitude > or = absolute value of 57 deg (103 in the north and 136 in the south). The MOC images scans that makeup the polar sections of these maps are exceptional due to the polar orbit of MGS which allows for the monitoring of the northern and southern polar caps about every two hours. This has allowed us to observe for the first time the evolution of a local north polar dust storm. Measurements of the sizes of these storms along with modeling the dust opacities (taud = 1.1 to 2.0) has allowed for the estimation of the sedimentation rate due only to polar dust storms. What is found is that the sedimentation rate is about an order of magnitude less than that suggested by global dust storms. MOC observations suggest that the erosional rate for the south polar region and the depositional rate in the north polar region are variable on a yearly basis and are highly dependent on global and regional dust storm activity.

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