Statistics
Scientific paper
Dec 2002
adsabs.harvard.edu/cgi-bin/nph-data_query?bibcode=2002agufm.p51a0332f&link_type=abstract
American Geophysical Union, Fall Meeting 2002, abstract #P51A-0332
Statistics
0343 Planetary Atmospheres (5405, 5407, 5409, 5704, 5705, 5707), 3307 Boundary Layer Processes, 3314 Convective Processes, 5445 Meteorology (3346), 6225 Mars
Scientific paper
We present results from an orbital survey of Martian dust devils using the Mars Global Surveyor (MGS) Mars Orbiter Camera (MOC) wide- and narrow-angle (WA and NA) images. The survey includes all available imaging data (mapping and pre-mapping orbit), through to mission phase E06. Due to the large volume of data, we have concentrated on surveying limited regions, selected variously on the basis of where dust devils or other dust storm activity has previously been reported, on the basis of where lander observations have been or will be obtained, and on the basis of predictions from numerical atmospheric models. Our study regions to date include: Amazonis Planitia (25-45N, 145-165W), Sinus Meridiani (10S-10N, 10E-10W), Chryse Planitia (10-30N, 30-60W), Solis Planum (15-45S, 75-105W), Hellas Planitia (15-60S, 265-315W), Casius (45-65N, 255-285W), Utopia Planitia (25-45N, 225-255W), Sinai Planum (10-20S, 60-100W), Mare Cimmerium (10-45S, 180-220W). We have compiled statistics on dust devil activity in three categories: dust devils observed in NA images, dust devils observed in WA images, and dust devil tracks observed in NA images. For each region and each category, we have compiled statistics for four seasonal date bins, centered on the equinoxes and solstices: Ls=45-135 (northern summer solstice), Ls=135-225 (northern autumn equinox), Ls=225-315 (northern winter solstice), and Ls=315-45 (northern spring equinox). Our survey has highlighted great spatial variability in dust devil activity, with the Amazonis Planitia region being by far the dominant location for activity. This region is additionally characterized by a large size range of dust devils, including individual devils up to several km in height. Other regions in which dust devils have been frequently imaged include Utopia, Solis, and Sinai. Numerous dust devil tracks were observed in Casius and Cimmerium, but with very few accompanying dust devils. This suggests dust devils occurring in local times other than that of the MGS orbit (~2pm). Our seasonal statistics suggest a very strong preference for Amazonis and Solis dust devil activity to occur in the northern autumn season. Conversely, Utopia shows dust devil activity which is relatively constant, except in the northern spring period. The observations will be presented, and compared with numerical model predictions. Initial results from this survey have already been used to define target regions for very high resolution simulations of dust devil development using the Caltech/Cornell Mars MM5 model.
Ewald Shawn P.
Fisher James
Richardson Mark I.
Toigo Anthony D.
Wilson Richard J.
No associations
LandOfFree
A Survey of Martian Dust Devil Activity Using Mars Global Surveyor Mars Orbiter Camera Images does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this scientific paper.
If you have personal experience with A Survey of Martian Dust Devil Activity Using Mars Global Surveyor Mars Orbiter Camera Images, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and A Survey of Martian Dust Devil Activity Using Mars Global Surveyor Mars Orbiter Camera Images will most certainly appreciate the feedback.
Profile ID: LFWR-SCP-O-1892099