Annual behaviour of the general circulation of the Martian atmosphere
Abstract
The seasonal dependence of the Martian general circulation and climate is studied with a fully non-linear, global and three-dimensional hydrodynamic Eulerian gridpoint model which extends from the ground to the lower thermosphere. The atmosphere is a dust-free pure carbon dioxide one, the dynamics of which is driven by the input of solar energy and by gravity. The radiative module includes a simple parametrization for solar and infrared absorption. The radiation transport is assumed to proceed within local thermodynamic equilibrium. Diffusive effects like Rayleigh friction, vertical eddy diffusion, molecular heat conduction and dynamic viscosity are taken into account. The horizontal resolution used in the simulations equals 5^o (148 km) in latitude, 22.5^o (475 km) in longitude and about 1 km in altitude. The numerical results for the temperature profiles and the horizontal wind velocities compare reasonably well with the results of other general circulation models. The results for the temperature reflect the large-scale structure of the Martian atmosphere obtained also experimentally. The maximum surface temperatures at summer in the northern and southern hemispheres differ by about 34 K. The zonal mean values of the zonal wind at solstice are up to three times larger than that at equinox.
- Publication:
-
EGS - AGU - EUG Joint Assembly
- Pub Date:
- April 2003
- Bibcode:
- 2003EAEJA.....4257M