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Carbon dioxide ice clouds, snowfalls, and baroclinic waves in the northern winter polar atmosphere of Mars
Author(s) -
Kuroda Takeshi,
Medvedev Alexander S.,
Kasaba Yasumasa,
Hartogh Paul
Publication year - 2013
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/grl.50326
Subject(s) - baroclinity , atmospheric sciences , snow , atmosphere (unit) , atmosphere of mars , mars exploration program , geology , polar , environmental science , climatology , martian , meteorology , astrobiology , physics , astronomy , geomorphology
The formation of CO 2 ice clouds in the northern winter polar atmosphere of Mars and their relation to baroclinic planetary waves, which dominate local dynamics, are studied using a general circulation model. The simulation shows that clouds are formed at altitudes of up to ∼ 40 km, and their occurrence correlates to a large degree with the cold phases of transient planetary waves. Ice particles formed up to ∼ 20 km can reach the surface in the form of snowfall in certain longitude regions, while in others, these particles likely sublimate in the lower warmer atmospheric layers. The simulation suggests that about a half of the seasonal ice cap is created by CO 2 snow, while the remaining half by direct condensation on the surface. Thus, the occurrences of ice clouds and rates of deposition are closely linked to traveling planetary waves, indicating the possibility for the reliable forecasts of CO 2 snow storms.