Morning Martian Atmospheric Temperature Gradients and Fluctuations Observed by Mars Pathfinder

Details Morning Martian Atmospheric Temperature Gradients and Fluctuations Observed by Mars Pathfinder Morning Martian Atmospheric Temperature Gradients and Fluctuations Observed by Mars Pathfinder

Jul 1999

adsabs.harvard.edu/cgi-bin/nph-data_query?bibcode=1999stin...9978607m&link_type=abstract

Technical Report, NASA/TM-1999-208788; A-99V0030; NAS 1.15:208788

Computer Science

Mars (Planet), Mars Atmosphere, Atmospheric Temperature, Mars Pathfinder, Viking Lander Spacecraft, Mars Missions, Mars Landing, Morning, Surface Layers, Atmospheric Heating, Temperature Gradients, Diurnal Variations, Wind Direction

Scientific paper

We have studied the most prominent atmospheric temperature fluctuations observed during Martian mornings by Mars Pathfinder and have concluded, based on comparisons with wind directions, that they appear to be a result of atmospheric heating associated with the Lander spacecraft. Also, we have examined the morning surface layer temperature lapse rates, which are found to decrease as autumn approaches at the Pathfinder location, and which have mean (and median) values as large as 7.3 K/m in the earlier portions of the Pathfinder landed mission. It is plausible that brief isolated periods with gradients twice as steep are associated with atmospheric heating adjacent to Lander air bag material. In addition, we have calculated the gradient with height of the structure function obtained with Mars Pathfinder, for Mars' atmospheric temperatures measured within about 1.3 m from the surface, assuming a power law dependence, and have found that these gradients superficially resemble those reported for the upper region of the terrestrial stable boundary layer.

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