MODERN CLIMATE

AND HYDROLOGICAL CYCLE OF MARS.

A.V.Rodin, A.A.Fedorova, N.A.Evdokimova, A.V.Burlakov, O.I.Korablev 1Moscow Institute of Physics and Technology, Russia; Space Research Institute, Russia .

Contact: Alexander.Rodin@phystech.edu

Seasonal and latitudinal distribution of water vapor

Viking 1,2 MAWD

TES – 20-40 microns

1.38 μm

MY 27 SPICAM IR

Smith 2002-2008

Fedorova et al. 2006 Jakosky, Farmer 1984

Jakosky et al.1984-1995:

Titov, Houben Regolith matters

Clancy et al., 1996: Circulation affected by

Richardson, Wilson, 2003 orbit excentricity &

Montmessin et al., 2004 hemispheircal asymmetry

cloud microphysics matters

TES, PFS, OMEGA, SPICAM, MCS: search for zonal, seasonal and interannual variations

Mars Atmosphere General Circulation Model

•FMS dynamical core•Aerosol –consistent radiation•H2O cloud microphysics•11.5, kz=28

Ls = 270 z=5 km

GCM illustration of Clancy effect: aphelion-perihelion asymmetry

perihelion aphelion

Clancy et al., 1996, Montmessin et al, 2002

50 100 150 200 250 300 350-90

-60

-30

0

30

60

90

Water vapor, pr. m

Solar areocentric longitude

L

atitu

de

5

5

510

10

10

10

15

15

15

15

15

15

15

20

20

20

202

0

2020

25

25

25

25

3030

30

35

35

4045

50 60 65

Seasonal Mars water cycle: GCM results

Water vapor column distributions on Mars

imply significant zonal variations:Viking/MAWD (Fedorova et al., 2004, Pankine et al.,2009)

Ls = 20

Ls = 330Ls = 150

Ls = 90

MGCM simulations

Water vapor annual average:atmosphere-surface interactions

Water vapor column, pr. mExposure (days) of frost layer

exceeding 100 m

Mitrofanov et al., 2002

Antipodal maxima of bound water content

Annual average (contd.)H2O molecules number densityprovided T > 220 K

Cold trap: total time when T>30 Kand T > 200 K, days

Basilevsky et al., 2006, Nelli et al., 2006

Soil hydration: - significant latitudinal variations - no evident connection to the seasonal water cycle

Evdokimova et al., 2010

MGS/TES (Pankine et al.,2009)

MEX/SPICAM: Spatial distribution of water vapor summer in north hemisphere

Ls 95-120: 59 orbits from 72 orbits are presented

Fedorova et al, 2009

0

180

10

20

30

40

50

60

MGCM instant water vapor column: North hemisphere [pr. m]

0

180

0

100

200

Ls = 92

0

180

0

100

200

Ls = 113 Ls = 142

Ls~93-97

OMEGA: Modes 2 and 3 in NPC sublimation marked by 1.25 m water ice band depth

MGCM water column, pr µm

Ls~113-115 Ls~127-136

Ls~94 Ls~114 Ls ~132

The location of maximal wind stress at the NPC coincides with spots of enhanced ice aging

0 5

Near-surface wind according to MGCM (m/s)

Ls = 92 Ls = 113 Ls = 137

+

+

+

+

+

(!) NPC sublimation rate depends on dynamics of the ambient atmosphere, not just heating and relative humidity

Ls = 145 event: switching from mesoscale to global perturbation

Ls = 92 Ls = 137 Ls = 147

Zonal flow meridional shear

Meridional V-component Emerging circumpolar vortex

Wave-3 pattern

-5 5 -10 10-5 5

Decaying circumpolar vortex

Polar vortex barotropic instability: laboratory studies (Barbosa et al., 2010)

Mode 3 in the residual seasonal water ice deposits (left) and MGCM moisture (right)

MEX/OMEGA 1.5 m indexRodin et al., 2010 MGCM

South hemisphere Ls = 225 event: implications to dust cycle

Ls = 220 Ls = 227

Near-surface dust mixing ratio (ppm)

Wave-3 pattern

0 50

Ls = 233

Wave-2 pattern Wave-4 pattern

0 50 0 50

Season of the strongest transient in the South hemisphere coincides with thewindow of dust storm initiation

Conclusions

• The nature of current Mars water cycle is understood; GCMs are able to reproduce observables

• The role of polar caps, regolith, and clouds needs further quantitative assessment

• Water cycle demonstrates a major role of low-wavenumber eddy transport in the Martian atmopsheric circulation