Probing the Martian atmosphere with MAVEN/IUVS stellar occultations

Atmosphere; CO2 and O2 Density; IUVS/MAVEN; Mars; Stellar Occultation; Temperature; Climate models; Earth atmosphere; Ionosphere; Stars; Calculation of temperature; Density profile; Lower thermosphere; Martian atmospheres; Volatile evolution; Carbon dioxide

Abstract :

[en] The first campaign of stellar occultations with the Imaging Ultraviolet Spectrograph (IUVS) instrument on board of Mars Atmosphere and Volatile EvolutioN (MAVEN) mission was executed between 24 and 26 March 2015. From this campaign 13 occultations are used to retrieve CO2 and O2 number densities in the altitude range between 100 and 150 km. Observations probe primarily the low-latitude regions on the nightside of the planet, just past the dawn and dusk terminator. Calculation of temperature from the CO2 density profiles reveals that the lower thermosphere is significantly cooler than predicted by the models in the Mars Climate Database. A systematically cold layer with temperatures of 105-120 K is seen in the occultations at a pressure level around 7 × 10-6 Pa. © 2015. American Geophysical Union. All Rights Reserved.

Disciplines :

Space science, astronomy & astrophysics

Author, co-author :

Gröller, H.; Lunar and Planetary Laboratory University of Arizona Tucson, Arizona USA

Yelle, R. V.; Lunar and Planetary Laboratory University of Arizona Tucson, Arizona USA

Koskinen, T. T.; Lunar and Planetary Laboratory University of Arizona Tucson, Arizona USA

Montmessin, F.; LATMOS, Université Versailles Saint-Quentin/CNRS Guyancourt France

Lacombe, G.; LATMOS, Université Versailles Saint-Quentin/CNRS Guyancourt France

Schneider, N. M.; Laboratory for Atmospheric and Space Physics University of Colorado Boulder Boulder, Colorado USA

Deighan, J.; Laboratory for Atmospheric and Space Physics University of Colorado Boulder Boulder, Colorado USA

Stewart, A. I. F.; Laboratory for Atmospheric and Space Physics University of Colorado Boulder Boulder, Colorado USA

Jain, S. K.; Laboratory for Atmospheric and Space Physics University of Colorado Boulder Boulder, Colorado USA

Chaffin, M. S.; Laboratory for Atmospheric and Space Physics University of Colorado Boulder Boulder, Colorado USA

More authors (9 more)

Language :

English

Title :

Probing the Martian atmosphere with MAVEN/IUVS stellar occultations

Publication date :

2015

Journal title :

Geophysical Research Letters

ISSN :

0094-8276

eISSN :

1944-8007

Publisher :

Blackwell Publishing Ltd

Peer reviewed :

Peer Reviewed verified by ORBi

Available on ORBi :

since 11 January 2016

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