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Comparison of the Martian thermospheric density and temperature from IUVS/MAVEN data and general circulation modeling
Author(s) -
Medvedev Alexander S.,
Nakagawa Hiromu,
Mockel Chris,
Yiğit Erdal,
Kuroda Takeshi,
Hartogh Paul,
Terada Kaori,
Terada Naoki,
Seki Kanako,
Schneider Nicholas M.,
Jain Sonal K.,
Evans J. Scott,
Deighan Justin I.,
McClintock William E.,
Lo Daniel,
Jakosky Bruce M.
Publication year - 2016
Publication title -
geophysical research letters
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.007
H-Index - 273
eISSN - 1944-8007
pISSN - 0094-8276
DOI - 10.1002/2016gl068388
Subject(s) - thermosphere , martian , atmosphere of mars , mars exploration program , atmospheric sciences , atmospheric tide , atmosphere (unit) , aeronomy , exosphere , flux (metallurgy) , gravity wave , physics , mesosphere , environmental science , astrobiology , ionosphere , geophysics , meteorology , gravitational wave , astrophysics , materials science , ion , quantum mechanics , stratosphere , metallurgy
Abstract Newly released Imaging Ultraviolet Spectrograph/Mars Atmosphere and Volatile EvolutioN (IUVS/MAVEN) measurements of CO 2 density in the Martian thermosphere have been used for comparison with the predictions of the Max Planck Institute Martian General Circulation Model (MPI‐MGCM). The simulations reproduced (within one standard deviation) the available zonal mean density and derived temperature above 130 km. The MGCM replicated the observed dominant zonal wave number 3 nonmigrating tide and demonstrated that it represents a nonmoving imprint of the topography in the thermosphere. The comparison shows a great dependence of the simulated density and temperature to the prescribed solar flux, atomic oxygen abundances and gravity wave effects, with the former two being especially important in the thermosphere above 130 km and the latter playing a significant role both in the mesosphere and thermosphere.