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The Surface Energy Budget at Gale Crater During the First 2500 Sols of the Mars Science Laboratory Mission
Author(s) -
Martínez G. M.,
VicenteRetortillo A.,
Vasavada A. R.,
Newman C. E.,
Fischer E.,
Rennó N. O.,
Savijärvi H.,
Torre M.,
OrdóñezEtxeberria I.,
Lemmon M. T.,
Guzewich S. D.,
McConnochie T. H.,
Sebastián E.,
Hueso R.,
SánchezLavega A.
Publication year - 2021
Publication title -
journal of geophysical research: planets
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
eISSN - 2169-9100
pISSN - 2169-9097
DOI - 10.1029/2020je006804
Subject(s) - downwelling , mars exploration program , longwave , shortwave , environmental science , atmospheric sciences , astrobiology , meteorology , upwelling , radiation , geology , radiative transfer , physics , oceanography , quantum mechanics
We use in situ environmental measurements by the Mars Science Laboratory (MSL) mission to obtain the surface energy budget (SEB) across Curiosity's traverse during the first 2500 sols of the mission. This includes values of the downwelling shortwave solar radiation, the upwelling solar radiation reflected by the surface, the downwelling longwave radiation from the atmosphere, the upwelling longwave radiation emitted by the surface, the sensible heat flux associated with turbulent motions, and the latent heat flux associated with water phase changes. We then analyze their temporal variation on different timescales and relate this to the mechanisms causing these variations. Through its Rover Environmental Monitoring Station, MSL allows for a more accurate determination of the SEB than its predecessors on Mars. Moreover, the unprecedented duration, cadence, and frequency of MSL environmental observations allow for analyses of the SEB from diurnal to interannual timescales. The results presented in this article can be used to evaluate the consistency with predictions from atmospheric numerical models, to validate aerosol radiative properties under a range of dust conditions, to understand the energy available for solar‐powered missions, and to enable comparisons with measurements of the SEB by the Perseverance rover at Jezero crater.