Gravity Wave Observations by the Mars Science Laboratory REMS Pressure Sensor and Comparison with Mesoscale Atmospheric Modeling with MarsWRF

Surface pressure measurements on Mars have revealed a wide variety of atmospheric phenomena. The Mars Science Laboratory Rover Environmental Monitoring Station pressure sensor data set is now the longest duration record of surface pressure on Mars. We use the first 2580 Martian sols, nearly 4 Mars years, of measurements to identify atmospheric pressure waves with periods of tens of minutes to hours using wavelet analysis on residual pressure after the tidal harmonics are removed. We find these waves have a clear diurnal cycle with strongest activity in the early morning and late evening and a seasonal cycle with the strongest waves in the second half of the martian year (Ls = 180–360°). The strongest such waves of the entire mission occurred during the Mars Year 34 global dust storm. Comparable atmospheric waves are identified using atmospheric modeling with the MarsWRF general circulation model in a “nested” high spatial resolution mode. With the support of the modeling, we find these waves best fit the expected properties of inertia‐gravity waves with horizontal wavelengths of O(100s) of km.

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“…nmsu.edu/PDS/data/mslrem_1001/). MarsWRF simulation output and derived REMS data used to make figures can be obtained from Guzewich et al (2021).…”

Section: Data Availability Statementmentioning

confidence: 99%

Gravity Wave Observations by the Mars Science Laboratory REMS Pressure Sensor and Comparison With Mesoscale Atmospheric Modeling With MarsWRF

et al. 2021

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“…In total, we have analyzed 1,260 image sequences taken during Sols 1500-3800, comprising more than 34,500 total images, as listed by Guzewich et al (2023). A "sequence" is a single packet of Navcam observations composed of multiple images or "frames."…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…All Navcam images are publicly available on the Planetary Data System (Maki, 2018). Guzewich et al (2023) archived our derived dust lifting information and statistics.…”

Section: Data Availability Statementmentioning

confidence: 99%

Dust Lifting Observations With the Mars Science Laboratory Navigation Cameras

Guzewich,

Mason,

Lemmon

et al. 2023

JGR Planets

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Martian dust lifting is believed to occur through two primary mechanisms: dust devils and wind stress forced dust lifting. Gale Crater's varied terrain and meteorology provide a unique in situ perspective on Martian dust lifting, with the Mars Science Laboratory Curiosity rover passing through both conditions and locations detrimental to dust lifting (e.g., the crater floor) and those with active sand motion and frequent dust lifting (e.g., the Bagnold Dunes). Between Ls = 248° in Mars Year 33 and Ls = 51° in Mars Year 37, over ∼3.5 Mars years and 2,300 sols, the rover's Navigation Cameras took 1,260 dedicated image sequences to search for dust lifting. Approximately 42.7% of all sequences, and 9.5% of the total images have shown active dust lifting, both dust devils and linear/straight‐line wind stress dust lifting. 79% of dust lifting events are classified as dust devils, while ∼16% are linear wind stress dust lifting and the remainder are of an indeterminate type. We analyze this large catalog of dust lifting events to provide ground truth on theoretical and model expectations of dust lifting and show that dust lifting in Gale Crater occurs throughout the Martian year, is strongly peaked in frequency near solar noon (even after accounting for observational biases), and that dust lifting shows an affinity for sand‐covered surfaces which highlights the importance of saltating sand grains for Martian dust lifting in both dust devils and wind stress forced lifting.

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Gravity Wave Observations by the Mars Science Laboratory REMS Pressure Sensor and Comparison with Mesoscale Atmospheric Modeling with MarsWRF

Cited by 2 publications

References 47 publications

Gravity Wave Observations by the Mars Science Laboratory REMS Pressure Sensor and Comparison With Mesoscale Atmospheric Modeling With MarsWRF

Gravity Wave Observations by the Mars Science Laboratory REMS Pressure Sensor and Comparison With Mesoscale Atmospheric Modeling With MarsWRF

Dust Lifting Observations With the Mars Science Laboratory Navigation Cameras

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