Short Timescale Fluctuations in Boundary Layer Temperature Profiles Observed by MiniTES

The planetary boundary layer on Mars plays an important role in heat and momentum transfer from the surface. Changes in temperature within this layer are driven by radiative and turbulent heating. Vertical temperature profiles retrieved using the Miniature Thermal Emission Spectrometer (MiniTES) onboard the Mars Exploration Rovers (MER) Spirit and Opportunity provide a means to characterize the boundary layer on short timescales. MiniTES observations consist of upward looking spectra in the range of 5-29 μm captured every 2 seconds for observational timeframes of 3 to 42 minutes. For each observation, we retrieve temperature profiles for individual spectra to identify fluctuations in the vertical temperature profile on short timescales. These fluctuations can provide information on the turbulent activity within the first 2 km above the surface. We will present temperature profiles from individual retrievals and identify as well as characterize fluctuations within these profiles. We will also show the seasonal variation of these fluctuations over the first 1200 sols (nearly 2 Mars Years) for both Spirit and Opportunity rovers.