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First detection of wave interactions in the middle atmosphere of Mars
Author(s) -
Moudden Y.,
Forbes J. M.
Publication year - 2011
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 - 10.1029/2010gl045592
Subject(s) - mars exploration program , atmosphere (unit) , atmosphere of mars , atmospheric sciences , atmospheric tide , astrobiology , altitude (triangle) , environmental science , thermosphere , diurnal cycle , geology , meteorology , ionosphere , physics , geophysics , martian , geometry , mathematics
Planetary wave‐tide interactions are known to exist in Earth's atmosphere and to account for some of its diurnal variability, or put another way, for variations in its diurnal cycle over time scales from days to weeks. In this study, using an elaborate arrangement of temperature profiles at a single local time from MRO/Mars Climate Sounder, we show that planetary wave‐tide interactions also occur in the middle atmosphere of Mars. These interactions excite secondary waves that amplify on average with altitude and appear to be an important source of tidal and longitudinal variability.