Comparison of the Mars PCM Dust Storm Effects on Water Vapor and the Hope Probe Observations
Abstract
The Emirates Mars Mission (EMM) Hope Probe observes at diurnal and subseasonal timescales, while having a vertical coverage that allows it to couple the lower atmosphere to the upper atmosphere. EMM observes lower atmosphere conditions through its two instruments EXI and EMIRS, and the upper atmosphere with the EMUS instrument. This work uses outputs from the Mars Planetary Climate Model (PCM; previously the LMD-MGCM) in order to understand the effects of dust storms on water vapor in the Martian atmosphere and the resulting escape of hydrogen. We compare a low dust condition to a Mars dust storm using the PCM in order to separate seasonal effects from dust storm effects. We also look at circulation and other atmospheric changes that result in water vapor reaching higher altitudes where it photodissociates and produces hydrogen that escapes the atmosphere. We compare our model results to what is observed in the Martian atmosphere through the Hope Probe instruments and use our understanding of the model to evaluate regions that are not covered vertically by EMM instrumentation in order to understand dust storm effects on the water vapor's circulation and eventual rise in altitude to the middle atmosphere leading to hydrogen escape.
- Publication:
-
AGU Fall Meeting Abstracts
- Pub Date:
- December 2022
- Bibcode:
- 2022AGUFM.P42F2452A