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Martian Weather Correlation Length Scales

Banfield, Don and Toigo, Anthony D. and Ingersoll, Andrew P. and Paige, David A. (1996) Martian Weather Correlation Length Scales. Icarus, 119 (1). pp. 130-143. ISSN 0019-1035. doi:10.1006/icar.1996.0006. https://resolver.caltech.edu/CaltechAUTHORS:20121212-090624317

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Abstract

Spring and fall equinox Viking infrared thermal mapper 15-μm channel atmospheric brightness temperature (T15) observations are used to estimate the weather correlation length scale of Mars in the pressure range 0.5–1 mbar. The results provide a better understanding of martian atmospheric dynamics, a benchmark for validating martian general circulation models (GCMs), a guide to the optimal placement of a network of landers, and information for use in data assimilation efforts for orbiters and landers. Observations of atmospheric temperature are used to compute an atmospheric mean state as a function of time-of-day, latitude, longitude, and altitude, which is then subtracted from the observations to yield weather temperature residuals. These residuals are correlated with each other to determine (1) the weather temperature correlation length scale (∼1000 km) as a function of latitude and (2) the weather temperature variance (∼4 K^2 global average for L_S∼ 0°, ∼3 K^2 for L_S ∼ 180°). Good general agreement is found in comparing the length scales to the Rossby radius of deformation and to inferences made from other data sets. The weather temperature variance results are also compared with GCM results, yielding satisfactory agreement, with some differences in the magnitudes of the variances.


Item Type:Article
Related URLs:
URLURL TypeDescription
http://dx.doi.org/10.1006/icar.1996.0006DOIArticle
http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0019103596900068PublisherArticle
ORCID:
AuthorORCID
Ingersoll, Andrew P.0000-0002-2035-9198
Additional Information:© 1996 by Academic Press, Inc. Received May 16, 1994; revised July 27, 1995. The authors acknowledge the helpful input of two anonymous reviewers, both of whom suggested significant improvements to the analysis technique presented in this paper. This work was funded by the Mars Observer Project and the NASA Planetary Atmospheres Program.
Group:UNSPECIFIED, UNSPECIFIED, Division of Geological and Planetary Sciences
Funders:
Funding AgencyGrant Number
NASAUNSPECIFIED
Issue or Number:1
DOI:10.1006/icar.1996.0006
Record Number:CaltechAUTHORS:20121212-090624317
Persistent URL:https://resolver.caltech.edu/CaltechAUTHORS:20121212-090624317
Official Citation:Don Banfield, Anthony D. Toigo, Andrew P. Ingersoll, David A. Paige, Martian Weather Correlation Length Scales, Icarus, Volume 119, Issue 1, January 1996, Pages 130-143, ISSN 0019-1035, 10.1006/icar.1996.0006. (http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0019103596900068)
Usage Policy:No commercial reproduction, distribution, display or performance rights in this work are provided.
ID Code:35934
Collection:CaltechAUTHORS
Deposited By: Ruth Sustaita
Deposited On:12 Dec 2012 17:33
Last Modified:09 Nov 2021 23:18

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