EarthRef.org Reference Database (ERR)
Development and Maintenance by the EarthRef.org Database Team

Detailed Reference Information
Cahoy et al. 2006
Cahoy, K.L., Hinson, D.P. and Tyler, G.L. (2006). Radio science measurements of atmospheric refractivity with Mars Global Surveyor. Journal of Geophysical Research 111: doi: 10.1029/2005JE002634. issn: 0148-0227.

Radio occultation experiments with Mars Global Surveyor measure the refractive index of the Martian atmosphere from the surface to ~250 km in geopotential height. Refractivity is proportional to neutral density at low altitudes and electron density at high altitudes, with a transition at ~75 km. We use weighted least squares to decompose zonal refractivity variations into amplitudes and phases for observed wave numbers k = 1--4 over the entire altitude range and use the results to analyze atmospheric structure and dynamics. The data set consists of 147 refractivity profiles acquired in December 2000 at summer solstice in the Martian northern hemisphere. The measurements are at an essentially fixed local time (sunrise) and at latitudes from 67¿ to 70¿N. Thermal tides appear to be responsible for much of the observed ionospheric structure from 80 to 220 km. Tides modulate the neutral density, which in turn, controls the height at which the ionosphere forms. The resulting longitude-dependent vertical displacement of the ionosphere generates distinctive structure in the fitted amplitudes, particularly at k = 3, within ¿50 km of the electron density peak height. Our k = 3 observations are consistent with an eastward propagating semidiurnal tide with zonal wave number 1. Relative to previous results, our analysis extends the characterization of tides to altitudes well above and below the electron density peak. In the neutral atmosphere, refractivity variations from the surface to 50 km appear to arise from stationary Rossby waves. Upon examining the full vertical range, stationary waves appear to dominate altitudes below ~75 km, and thermal tides dominate altitudes above this transition region.

BACKGROUND DATA FILES

Abstract

Keywords
Planetary Sciences, Solid Surface Planets, Meteorology, Planetary Sciences, Solid Surface Planets, Ionospheres, Planetary Sciences, Solar System Objects, Mars
Journal
Journal of Geophysical Research
http://www.agu.org/journals/jb/
Publisher
American Geophysical Union
2000 Florida Avenue N.W.
Washington, D.C. 20009-1277
USA
1-202-462-6900
1-202-328-0566
service@agu.org
Click to clear formClick to return to previous pageClick to submit