Wind measurements in Mars' middle atmosphere: IRAM Plateau de Bure interferometric CO observations |
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Authors: | R Moreno E Lellouch T Encrenaz E Millour |
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Institution: | a LESIA, Observatoire de Paris, 92195 Meudon Cedex, France b LMD, IPSL, Université Jussieu Paris VI, Case postale 99, 4, place Jussieu, F 75252 Paris Cedex 05, France c LAB, 2, Rue de l'Observatoire, BP 89, 33270 Floirac, France |
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Abstract: | The IRAM Plateau de Bure Interferometer has been used to map the CO(1-0) rotational line in Mars' middle atmosphere. Absolute winds and thermal profiles were retrieved during the 1999, 2001, 2003 and 2005 planet's oppositions. The observations sampled various seasons (Ls=143, 196, 262, 317 and 322), and different dust situations (clear, global storm, regional storm). The absolute winds were derived by measuring directly the Doppler lineshifts. The main zonal circulation near 50 km is dominated by strong retrograde winds, with typical velocities of 70-170 m/s, strongly varying seasonally, latitudinally, and longitudinally (in particular between morning and evening). Comparison of the retrieved temperature with a general circulation model indicates that the model often underestimates the temperatures in the middle (20-50 km) atmosphere, and overestimates them above 50 km. |
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Keywords: | Mars Atmosphere dynamics |
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