Analysis of high altitude clouds in the martian atmosphere based on Mars Climate Sounder observations

[摘要] High altitude clouds have been observed in the Martian atmosphere. However, their properties still remain to be characterized. Mars Climate Sounder (MCS) aboard Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter (MRO) is an instrument that measures radiances in the thermal infrared, both in limb and nadir views. It allows us to retrieve vertical profiles of radiance, temperature and aerosols. Using the MCS data and radiative transfer model coupled with an automated inversion routine, we can investigate the chemical composition of the high altitude clouds. We will present the first results on the properties of the clouds. CO2ice is the best candidate to be the main component of some high altitude clouds due to the most similar spectral variation compared to water ice or dust, in agreement with previous studies. Using cloud composition of contaminated CO2ice (dust core surrounded by CO2ice) might improve the fitting result, but further study is needed.

[发布机构] Bosscha Observatory, FMIPA, Institut Teknologi Bandung, Indonesia^1;LATMOS/IPSL, UVSQ Université Paris-Saclay, UPMC Univ. Paris 06, CNRS, Guyancourt, France^2;LESIA Observatoire de Paris, Meudon, France^3;Jet Propulsion Laboratory, Caltech, Mail Stop 169-237, 4800 Oak Grove Dr, Pasadena; CA; 91109, United States^4

[效力级别] 天文学

[关键词] Automated inversion;Chemical compositions;Cloud composition;Mars Reconnaissance Orbiters;Martian atmospheres;Radiative transfer model;Spectral variation;Thermal infrared