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On the infrared radiative properties of CO 2 ice clouds: Application to Mars
Author(s) -
Hunt Garry E.
Publication year - 1980
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/gl007i007p00481
Subject(s) - brightness , radiative transfer , ice cloud , mars exploration program , infrared , brightness temperature , polar , frost (temperature) , atmospheric sciences , geology , environmental science , astrobiology , materials science , remote sensing , physics , astronomy , optics , geomorphology
We have investigated the effect on the observed 20 µm brightness temperatures measured by the IRTM instrument, of the presence of cloud layers of CO 2 ice particles. The results show that such clouds have a profound effect, and a layer corresponding to visible thickness of ∼0.5, can create brightness temperatures of 120‐130K, even when the surface is at 150K. This suggests that these clouds may also contribute to the effect of brightness temperatures below the CO 2 frost point, which have been observed over the southern winter polar region. This article contains supplementary material.