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Gravity waves, cold pockets and CO 2 clouds in the Martian mesosphere
Author(s) -
Spiga A.,
GonzálezGalindo F.,
LópezValverde M.Á.,
Forget F.
Publication year - 2012
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 - 10.1029/2011gl050343
Subject(s) - martian , mesosphere , mesoscale meteorology , atmospheric sciences , atmosphere of mars , gravity wave , atmosphere (unit) , mesopause , geology , astrobiology , geophysics , gravitational wave , physics , climatology , meteorology , mars exploration program , astronomy , stratosphere
Many independent measurements have shown that extremely cold temperatures are found in the Martian mesosphere. These mesospheric “cold pockets” may result from the propagation of atmospheric waves. Recent observational achievements also hint at such cold pockets by revealing mesospheric clouds formed through the condensation of CO 2 , the major component of the Martian atmosphere. Thus far, modeling studies addressing the presence of cold pockets in the Martian mesosphere have explored the influence of large‐scale circulations. Mesoscale phenomena, such as gravity waves, have received less attention. Here we show through multiscale meteorological modeling that mesoscale gravity waves could play a key role in the formation of mesospheric cold pockets propitious to CO 2 condensation.