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Angular momentum of seasonally condensing atmosphereswith special reference to Mars
Author(s) -
Philip J. R.
Publication year - 1979
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/gl006i009p00727
Subject(s) - mars exploration program , atmosphere of mars , angular momentum , atmospheric sciences , atmosphere (unit) , orbiter , planet , environmental science , rotation (mathematics) , geology , martian , climatology , physics , astrobiology , meteorology , astronomy , classical mechanics , geometry , mathematics
An atmosphere condensing and subliming seasonally about the poles of a planet loses and gains mass relatively more rapidly than it does angular momentum. An exploratory analysis indicates that a seasonal cycle of mean zonal winds is produced. These exert a seasonally variable torque on the surface of the planet which transfers angular momentum between the atmosphere and the solid planetinducing seasonal fluctuations in the planet's rotation. The analysis is applied to Mars. It yields seasonal variation in zonal wind direction consonant with that inferred from Viking Orbiter images of south polar regions; and it predicts cumulative seasonal fluctuations in the rotation of Mars of about ± 40 milliseconds. The measurement of such fluctuations appears feasible and would provide an independent source of insight into gross features of Martian meteorology.