Interferometric millimeter observations of water vapor on Mars

Details Interferometric millimeter observations of water vapor on Mars Interferometric millimeter observations of water vapor on Mars

Oct 2011

adsabs.harvard.edu/cgi-bin/nph-data_query?bibcode=2011epsc.conf..787f&link_type=abstract

EPSC-DPS Joint Meeting 2011, held 2-7 October 2011 in Nantes, France. http://meetings.copernicus.org/epsc-dps2011, p.787

Physics

Scientific paper

We present interferometric mapping of the 225.9-GHz HDO and 203.4-GHz H2 18O lines on Mars obtained with the IRAM Plateau de Bure facility (PdBI). The observations were performed during martian year 28 (MY28), at Ls = 320.3 for the HDO line, and at Ls = 324.3 for the H2 18O line. The HDO line is detected at the eastern (morning) and western (evening) limbs of the northern hemisphere, corresponding to a water column density in the range 3-6 pr.-μm(Fig. 1). The H2 18O line is not detected, which is compatible with the column densities derived from the HDO line (Fig. 2). Quasi-simultaneous far infrared measurements obtained by the Planetary Fourier Spectrometer (PFS) onboard the Mars Express spacecraft confirm our PdBI results, yielding a 5±1 pr.-μm meridionally constant water column abundance (Fig 3). Such a low water abundance during the southern mid-autumn of MY28 does not correspond to the standard martian climatology as observed during the previous years. It was however already retrieved from near-infrared observations performed by the Compact Reconnaissance Imaging Spectrometer for Mars (CRISM) onboard the Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter spacecraft [Smith, M. D., Wolff, M. J., Clancy, R. T., Murchie, S. L. 2009. CRISM observations of water vapor and carbon monoxide. J. Geophys. Res. 114, doi:10.1029/2008JE003288]. Our observations thus confirm that the planet-encircling dust storm that occured during MY28 significantly affected the martian water cycle. Our observations also demonstrate the usefulness of interferometric submillimeter observations to survey the martian water cycle from groundbased facilities.

Affiliated with

Also associated with

No associations

Rating

Interferometric millimeter observations of water vapor on Mars 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 Interferometric millimeter observations of water vapor on Mars, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Interferometric millimeter observations of water vapor on Mars will most certainly appreciate the feedback.

Rate now

Comments { 0 }

Profile ID: LFWR-SCP-O-1480594