Previous simulations of the Martian atmosphere have shown how topography acts to confine the low-level Hadley cell flow into intense jets on the eastern flanks of Tharsis and Syrtis Major. We now conduct detailed studies of these jets using the NASA Ames Mars general circulation model (MGCM). The structure of...
Analysis of simulations performed with the NASA/Ames Mars GCM shows that under dusty conditions the Northern Hemisphere winter solstice circulation becomes characterized by a zonally averaged state in which the potential vorticity at upper levels is very small outside of high latitudes. The available observational data-in particular the 15-µm observations...
A set of simulations with the NASA Ames Mars general circulation model (GCM) has been analyzed to define the basic properties and dynamics of quasi-stationary eddy circulations in the winter hemisphere. These circulations, differing substantially from those in low latitudes and the summer hemisphere, extended from the surface to the...
We described a simplified physics approach to generating time-varying global wind and temperature fields suitable for conducting transport studies on Mars. The goal is to develop a computationally fast algorithm that will enable long-term simulations of the planet’s climate system. Thus we use a three-dimensional log-pressure global spectral model forced...
An instrument on the Pathfinder lander has been designed to measure the structure of Mars’ atmosphere during spacecraft entry and descent from ~150 km altitude to the surface, and to measure meteorological parameters after landing for the landed duration of the mission. This is specified to be nominally 30 Mars...
The NASA Ames Mars General Circulation Model is used to interpret selected results from the Mars Pathfinder atmospheric structure instrument/meteorology (ASI/MET) experiment. The present version of the model has an improved soil thermal model, a new boundary layer scheme, and a correction for non-local thermodynamic equilibrium effects at solar wavelengths....
The NASA Ames Mars general circulation and boundary layer models are used as guides to forecast the meteorological environment of the Pathfinder lander site. Based on these models we predict that for a Viking-like atmospheric dust loading, significant vertical wave structure will be seen in the entry temperature profile above...