Physics
Scientific paper
Dec 2002
adsabs.harvard.edu/cgi-bin/nph-data_query?bibcode=2002agufm.p51b0348s&link_type=abstract
American Geophysical Union, Fall Meeting 2002, abstract #P51B-0348
Physics
0343 Planetary Atmospheres (5405, 5407, 5409, 5704, 5705, 5707), 3346 Planetary Meteorology (5445, 5739), 3367 Theoretical Modeling, 5409 Atmospheres: Structure And Dynamics, 6225 Mars
Scientific paper
Interpretation of ancient fluvial features on the surface of Mars requires a better understanding of the Early Mars climate, and baroclinic eddies (or "storms") would be a key feature of the midlatitude atmosphere. Such eddies would affect the climate by transporting heat, transporting CO2, stimulating CO2 precipitation, and modulating cloud formation. We present some preliminary results on baroclinic instability in a hypothetical dense CO2 Early Mars atmosphere, focusing on the novel features arising from this situation. These features include the latent heat release in a deep condensing layer (making for a particularly extreme form of moist baroclinic instability), and pressure alterations due to significant loss of mass in precipitating system. The stability of zonal flows in a two dimensional (x-z) quasigeostrophic model is examined. The model assumes a saturated "cloud" layer above about 2 scale heights (28 km). The zonal mean zonal wind is jet-like in the vertical with the profile /line{u}=αze-(z)/(H). The zonal mean temperature at the surface is constant (280K) and decays adiabatically with height until the saturation pressure is reached. In the condensing layer, the basic state temperature is given by the moist adiabat, Ts=(-a)/(b-ln (p/po). Normal mode calculations are performed in the absence of condensation. Initial value calculations are also performed in which the effect of latent heat release and mass loss accompanying condensation is included. Growth rates for both the normal mode and initial value problem are found as a function of the zonal scale (wavenumber). Various eddy characteristics are discussed.
Pierrehumbert Raymond T.
Sabato Jude S.
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