Dynamics of the extremely elongated cloud on Mars Arsia Mons volcano
Abstract
We report a previously unnoticed annually repeating phenomenon consisting of the daily formation of an extremely elongated cloud extending as far as 1800 km westward from Arsia Mons. It takes place in the Solar Longitude (Ls) range of ∼220°-320°, around the Southern solstice. This cloud exhibits a very rapid daily cycle: its growth starts before sunrise on the western slope of the volcano, followed by a westward expansion that lasts 2.5 hours with a velocity of around 160 m/s in the mesosphere (∼45 km over the areoid). It evaporates before the afternoon, when most sun-synchronous orbiters observe.
- Publication:
-
XIV.0 Scientific Meeting (virtual) of the Spanish Astronomical Society
- Pub Date:
- July 2020
- Bibcode:
- 2020sea..confE.101H