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gfdl's home page > gfdl on-line bibliography > 2002: Geophysical Research Letters, 29(7), 10.1029/2001GL013975
Evidence for nonmigrating thermal tides in the Mars upper atmosphere from the Mars Global Surveyor Accelerometer Experiment
| Wilson, R. J., 2002: Evidence for nonmigrating thermal tides in the Mars upper atmosphere from the Mars Global Surveyor Accelerometer Experiment . Geophysical Research Letters, 29(7), 10.1029/2001GL013975. |
| Abstract: Mars Global Surveyor Accelerometer Experiment density measurements indicate the presence of planetary-scale wave structure in the Mars upper atmosphere (~130 km). In particular, Phase 2 aerobraking observations reveal large amplitude zonal wave 2 and 3 variations in dayside density between ± 60° latitude. These spatial variations (in a fixed local solar time reference) can be qualitatively reproduced by a Mars general circulation model and are identified as a manifestation of eastward propagating nonmigrating thermal tides with long vertical wavelengths. The simulated wave 2 variation is dominated by a diurnal period wave 1 Kelvin mode while the principal components of the simulated zonal wave 3 structure are a diurnal period wave 2 Kelvin mode and a wave 1 semidiurnal tide. The characterization of these waves is important for understanding the structure and variability of the martian atmosphere at aerobraking altitudes. |