The atmosphere of Mars is thin, although rich in dust aerosols, and covers a dry surface. As such, Mars provides an opportunity to expand our knowledge of atmospheres beyond that attainable from the atmosphere of the Earth. The InSight (Interior Exploration using Seismic Investigations, Geodesy and Heat Transport) lander is measuring Mars’s atmosphere with unprecedented continuity, accuracy and sampling frequency. Here we show that InSight unveils new atmospheric phenomena at Mars, especially in the higher-frequency range, and extends our understanding of Mars’s meteorology at all scales. InSight is uniquely sensitive to large-scale and regional weather and obtained detailed in situ coverage of a regional dust storm on Mars. Images have enabled high-altitude wind speeds to be measured and revealed airglow—faint emissions produced by photochemical reactions—in the middle atmosphere. InSight observations show a paradox of aeolian science on Mars: despite having the largest recorded Martian vortex activity and dust-devil tracks close to the lander, no visible dust devils have been seen. Meteorological measurements have produced a catalogue of atmospheric gravity waves, which included bores (soliton-like waves). From these measurements, we have discovered Martian infrasound and unexpected similarities between atmospheric turbulence on Earth and Mars. We suggest that the observations of Mars’s atmosphere by InSight will be key for prediction capabilities and future exploration.

/pdf/the-atmosphere-of-mars-as-observed-by-insight-43z4if1u21.pdf

The atmosphere of Mars as observed by InSight

The early development of life, a fundamental question for humankind, requires the presence of a suitable planetary climate. Our understanding of how habitable planets come to be begins with the worlds closest to home. Venus, Earth, and Mars differ only modestly in their mass and distance from the Sun, yet their current climates could scarcely be more divergent. Only Earth has abundant liquid water, Venus has a runaway greenhouse, and evidence for life-supporting conditions on Mars points to a bygone era. In addition, an Earth-like hydrologic cycle has been revealed in a surprising place: Saturn's cloud-covered satellite Titan has liquid hydrocarbon rain, lakes, and river networks. Deducing the initial conditions for these diverse worlds and unravelling how and why they diverged to their current climates is a challenge at the forefront of planetary science. Through the contributions of more than sixty leading experts in the field, Comparative Climatology of Terrestrial Planets sets forth the foundations for this emerging new science and brings the reader to the forefront of our current understanding of atmospheric formation and climate evolution. Particular emphasis is given to surface-atmosphere interactions, evolving stellar flux, mantle processes, photochemistry, and interactions with the interplanetary environment, all of which influence the climatology of terrestrial planets. From this cornerstone, both current professionals and most especially new students are brought to the threshold, enabling the next generation of new advances in our own solar system and beyond.

Comparative Climatology of Terrestrial Planets

Airborne dust is the main climatic agent in the Martian environment. Local dust storms play a key role in the dust cycle; yet their life cycle is poorly known. Here we use mesoscale modeling that includes the transport of radiatively active dust to predict the evolution of a local dust storm monitored by OMEGA on board Mars Express. We show that the evolution of this dust storm is governed by deep convective motions. The supply of convective energy is provided by the absorption of incoming sunlight by dust particles, rather than by latent heating as in moist convection on Earth. We propose to use the terminology "rocket dust storm", or conio-cumulonimbus, to describe those storms in which rapid and efficient vertical transport takes place, injecting dust particles at high altitudes in the Martian troposphere (30–50 km). Combined to horizontal transport by large-scale winds, rocket dust storms produce detached layers of dust reminiscent of those observed with Mars Global Surveyor and Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter. Since nighttime sedimentation is less efficient than daytime convective transport, and the detached dust layers can convect during the daytime, these layers can be stable for several days. The peak activity of rocket dust storms is expected in low-latitude regions at clear seasons (late northern winter to late northern summer), which accounts for the high-altitude tropical dust maxima unveiled by Mars Climate Sounder. Dust-driven deep convection has strong implications for the Martian dust cycle, thermal structure, atmospheric dynamics, cloud microphysics, chemistry, and robotic and human exploration.

https://agupubs.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/pdf/10.1002/jgre.20046

Rocket dust storms and detached dust layers in the Martian atmosphere

[1] We have used density measurements obtained during aerobraking (AB) on Mars Global Surveyor and Mars Odyssey to examine mean densities and the characteristics and variability of gravity waves (GWs) in the upper atmosphere of Mars. Mean densities exhibit variability with latitude and season and in response to variable forcing and filtering from below. These data also reveal significant variability of GWs, both spatially and temporally. In general, GW amplitudes increase, while apparent horizontal scales remain the same, with increasing altitude. The dominant spatial scales at the lower AB altitudes are typically ∼20–200 km and density fluctuations vary from ∼5 to 50%, though even larger values are occasionally observed. GW amplitudes also vary significantly with season, being generally larger in winter and at middle and high latitudes, and apparently reflecting mean source and filtering conditions. Amplitudes also appear to vary with longitude and time and may provide clues to variability of, and interactions with, larger-scale motions.

https://agupubs.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/pdf/10.1029/2006JA011897

Mean and gravity wave structures and variability in the Mars upper atmosphere inferred from Mars Global Surveyor and Mars Odyssey aerobraking densities

[1] We report new results on the structure and dynamics of the tropical atmosphere of Mars derived from a combination of radio occultation measurements by Mars Global Surveyor and simulations by a Mars general circulation model (MGCM). Radio occultation experiments sounded the equatorial atmosphere at latitudes of 36°N to 30°S during midsummer of the Northern Hemisphere (Ls = 134°–162°), sampling the predawn thermal structure at a local time of ∼0412. Elevated temperature inversions are a conspicuous feature of these observations. They appear at pressures between 30 and 200 Pa, well above the surface, and their magnitude exceeds 6 K in 34% of the temperature profiles in this latitude band. The properties and spatial distribution of these elevated inversions are organized across the tropics on planetary scales. Inversions are strongest and occur most frequently above elevated terrain, achieving a peak magnitude of ∼30 K near Tharsis, and their altitude generally increases toward the south. According to MGCM simulations, which closely resemble the observations, these temperature inversions arise from zonally modulated thermal tides. The best simulation includes an interactive hydrologic cycle, which results in strong coupling between the thermal tides and radiatively active water ice clouds. Prominent clouds form in response to wave-induced adiabatic cooling and evolve in a pattern closely correlated with the thermal structure of the tides. The tides in turn are intensified by radiative forcing from the clouds. This tide-cloud coupling imposes strong diurnal modulation on the properties of clouds in the tropics.

Temperature Inversions, Thermal Tides, and Water Ice Clouds in the Martian Tropics

[1] Temperature profiles from Mars Global Surveyor (MGS) radio occultation measurements reveal vertical wave structures assumed to be atmospheric gravity waves in Mars' lower atmosphere. For each vertical temperature profile derived from a radio occultation measurement, wave energy density is calculated, and results are locally averaged to derive a global distribution of gravity wave activity. Global distributions are determined for all values of solar longitude and for solar longitudes corresponding to northern summer and winter to show seasonality and for vertical wavelengths less than 10 km to remove the contribution from thermal tides, which dominate in the Martian tropics at larger vertical wavelengths. The global energy density patterns show significant wave activity over the tropics and the mountainous Tharsis region averaged over all seasons and enhanced activity in northern summer compared to winter. For the most part, the observed data does not correlate well with the orographic forcing schemes used to model gravity waves in general circulation models for Mars, suggesting that wave sources other than orography play an important role on Mars.

https://agupubs.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/pdf/10.1029/2005GL024037

Global and seasonal distribution of gravity wave activity in Mars' lower atmosphere derived from MGS radio occultation data

[1] Examination of the small-scale density perturbations in Mars' thermosphere inferred from Mars Global Surveyor (MGS) accelerometer data reveals wave-like structures consistent with gravity waves. The structures are interpreted to be horizontal with dominant wavelengths of 100-300 km observed along the orbital path. Density perturbations are significantly stronger in winter versus spring/summer, suggesting that the zonal mean winds play a major role in filtering these waves. There is also evidence of possible modulation by the mean winds due to local time differences. No correlation is found with the underlying topography, a source region on Earth for gravity waves. In fact, density perturbations in the northern hemisphere are observed to be greater than those in the southern hemisphere, which has a higher orographic variance. Over the Martian tropics, an observed source region for gravity waves, density perturbations are again not elevated, leaving questions on how gravity waves observed in the lower atmosphere are related to those observed in the thermosphere.

https://agupubs.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/pdf/10.1029/2006GL027583

John E. Creasey

Papers

Global and seasonal distribution of gravity wave activity in Mars' lower atmosphere derived from MGS radio occultation data

Density variability at scales typical of gravity waves observed in Mars' thermosphere by the MGS accelerometer