Mars Climate Sounder Observation of Mars' 2018 Global Dust Storm

Kass, D. M.; Schofield, J. T.; Kleinböhl, A.; McCleese, D. J.; Heavens, N. G.; Shirley, James H.; Steele, Liam

doi:10.1029/2019gl083931

Cited by 95 publications

(124 citation statements)

References 26 publications

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“…The dust storm moved to equatorial regions along the dust storm corridor in the Acidalia area. Initial dust signatures of the global event were observed on 2 June 2018 ( L s = 186°), with temperature signatures at a pressure level of 50 Pa (∼25 km) being observed the following day (Kass et al, ). A significant vertical and latitudinal expansion is evident by 4 June 2018, with dust reaching altitudes greater than 55 km in the equatorial region and spreading out to latitudes between 50°N and 50°S at altitudes exceeding 40 km (Shirley et al, ).…”

Section: Mcs Observations Of the My34 Gdementioning

confidence: 99%

“…By this time zonal mean daytime temperatures at 50 Pa also started to exceed the 200 K threshold, indicating at least a large‐scale regional dust event. Based on MCS observations an early peak in dust column opacity with a visible optical depth of ∼5.7 was reached close to the Acidalia corridor in the Meridiani region on 8 June ( L s = 189.8°) (Kass et al, ).…”

Section: Mcs Observations Of the My34 Gdementioning

confidence: 99%

“…The storm became planet encircling by 17 June 2018 ( L s = 194.9°), which coincides with a peak in optical depth of 8.5 measured from the surface by the Curiosity rover (Guzewich et al, ). The GDE reached its mature phase around 23 June 2018 ( L s = 197.9°) (Kass et al, ). The zonal mean peak in the dust column optical depth was observed on 28 June ( L s = 201°) with a value of 6.8 (visible).…”

Section: Mcs Observations Of the My34 Gdementioning

confidence: 99%

“…These include the GDEs of 1971 (MY9) that was observed by Mariner 9 (Martin, , ), two GDEs in 1977 (MY12) observed by the Viking Orbiters 1 and 2 (Ryan and Sharman, ), and the GDE in 2001 observed by the Mars Global Surveyor (Cantor, ; Smith et al, ). The GDE of 2007 (MY28) and the most recent GDE of 2018 (MY34) were observed from orbit by Mars Odyssey, Mars Express, and the Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter (MRO; e.g., Kass et al, ; Kleinböhl et al, ; Smith, ; Wolkenberg et al, ).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The recent 2018 GDE on Mars provides a unique opportunity to gain insight into the behavior of these large‐scale dust events using dust profile observations by MCS. Kass et al () provide an initial overview of MCS observations obtained during the GDE. Here we expand on these initial analyses by focusing on differences in the dust distributions between daytime and nighttime observations.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Diurnal Variations of Dust During the 2018 Global Dust Storm Observed by the Mars Climate Sounder

et al. 2020

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We report observations by the Mars Climate Sounder showing strong diurnal variations in temperature and the vertical dust distribution during the 2018 (Mars Year 34) global dust event.The temperature field shows weak diurnal tidal activity at equatorial latitudes but a strong diurnal tide in middle to high latitudes with a maximum amplitude of 29 K in the lower atmosphere of the south polar region. The diurnal variability of dust is small in the equatorial region and increases toward higher latitudes. At middle and low latitudes, comparable dust amounts are found about 5-10 km higher in the atmosphere on the dayside than on the nightside. The dust reaches the highest altitudes in the late afternoon and is found at the lowest altitudes in the late night. In the southern high latitudes a persistent cold air mass with low dust content is identified on the nightside of the planet centered at 3-6 a.m. local time. The observed variations are well represented by model simulations with the Laboratoire de Météorologie Dynamique General Circulation Model. Comparisons between data and model results suggest that the diurnal variations in the dust are largely driven by the meridional circulation exhibiting diurnal tidal variations. The model results show that the compact air mass in the south polar region has a high potential vorticity, supporting its interpretation as a remnant of the southern polar vortex, which is forced toward the nightside of the planet due to the enhanced diurnal tide during the global dust event.Plain Language Summary One of the most distinctive features of the Martian atmosphere are global dust storms, one of which occurred in 2018. We report on observations of the vertical structure of atmospheric temperature and dust by the Mars Climate Sounder onboard Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter. Strong differences between day and night are found in both temperature and dust vertical structure. The strongest temperature variations are observed in the south polar atmosphere, with temperature differences up to 58 • C/136 • F between day and night. Comparable dust amounts are found 5-10 km (3-6 miles) higher in the atmosphere on the dayside than on the nightside at central and equatorial latitudes. In the southern polar region a persistent cold body of air with low dust is identified on the nightside of the planet. The observations are compared with the results from a global atmospheric computer model. The observed temperature and dust distribution and their variations over the Martian day are well represented by the model. The diurnal variations in the dust are largely driven by diurnal changes in the large-scale atmospheric circulation. The compact body of air in the south polar region is forced to the nightside by this altered circulation but does not dissipate for several months.

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Section: Mcs Observations Of the My34 Gdementioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Mcs Observations Of the My34 Gdementioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Mcs Observations Of the My34 Gdementioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Diurnal Variations of Dust During the 2018 Global Dust Storm Observed by the Mars Climate Sounder

et al. 2020

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Enhanced Super-rotation Before and During the 2018 Martian Global Dust Storm

Rajendran

Lewis

Holmes

et al. 2021

Preprint

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Super-rotation affects-and is affected by-the distribution of dust in the martian atmosphere. We modeled this interaction during the 2018 global dust storm (GDS) of Mars Year 34 using data assimilation. Super-rotation increased by a factor of two at the peak of the GDS, as compared to the same period in the previous year which did not feature a GDS. A strong westerly jet formed in the tropical lower atmosphere, with strong easterlies above 60 km, as a result of momentum transport by thermal tides. Enhanced super-rotation is shown to have commenced 40 sols before the onset of the GDS, due to dust lifting in the southern mid-latitudes and tropics. The uniform distribution of dust in the tropics resulted in a symmetric Hadley cell with a tropical upwelling branch that could efficiently transport dust vertically; this may have significantly contributed to the rapid expansion of the storm.Plain Language Summary Dust plays a major role in driving the behavior of the atmosphere of Mars. During a global dust storm (GDS), winds lift, and transport dust throughout the atmosphere; in turn, dust affects wind direction and strength by heating and cooling the surrounding air. Using a technique that combines satellite observations with simulations of the martian atmosphere, we demonstrate that winds at tropical latitudes were greatly strengthened during the 2018 GDS as a result of heating by dust. We show that tropical winds were strengthened even before the onset of the storm, as a result of a dust-driven modification to the tropical circulation pattern. This change in the tropical circulation may have played a role in the formation of the GDS.

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Vertical aerosol distribution and mesospheric clouds from ExoMars UVIS

Streeter

Sellers

Wolff

et al. 2021

Preprint

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Suspended atmospheric aerosols are key components of the martian atmosphere, and their vertical distribution has long been a subject of investigation with orbital observations and modeling. The aerosols found in Mars' atmosphere are mineral dust, water ice, and CO 2 ice, and each have distinct spatiotemporal distributions and radiative effects. Early analytical calculations based on estimated dust sedimentation and diffusion rates alongside orbital observations of a Global Dust Storm (GDS) led to the development of a standard dust profile often used

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Mars Climate Sounder Observation of Mars' 2018 Global Dust Storm

Cited by 95 publications

References 26 publications

Diurnal Variations of Dust During the 2018 Global Dust Storm Observed by the Mars Climate Sounder

Diurnal Variations of Dust During the 2018 Global Dust Storm Observed by the Mars Climate Sounder

Enhanced Super-rotation Before and During the 2018 Martian Global Dust Storm

Vertical aerosol distribution and mesospheric clouds from ExoMars UVIS

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