Planetary and synoptic-scale atmospheric disturbances from images of Mars during Martian Year 36

Four surface stations (rovers Curiosity, Perseverance, and Zhurong, and the Insight platform) were operating on Mars along Martian Year 36 (7 February 2021 – 26 December 2022), all them equipped with a suite of meteorological sensors and cameras. In addition, eight orbiters are currently studying the planet from different perspectives and instruments. To help to interpret and put in context the meteorological measurements at the surface by these stations, we present here a study of the atmospheric disturbances, at the planetary and synoptic scales, based on images of Mars obtained from cameras onboard Mars Express and Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter [1, 2]. We report on the properties of the disturbances that evolved at the edge of the North Polar Cap (latitudes ~ 40°N to 70°N) during the springtime season in the northern hemisphere. These are dust storms and synoptic-scale cloud systems with arc, frontal, irregular and spiral shapes, typically growing from the baroclinic instabilities in the intense eastward jet present in this epoch of the Martian year.  We also report on the evolution of the aphelion cloud belt (Ls ~ 0° – 180°), including among other phenomena the recurrent annular-double cyclone (Ls ~ 125°) and the cloud development at Hellas basin (Ls ~ 145° – 300°). Finally, we present an analysis of the dust storms that evolved at different latitudes, concentrating in particular in the regional storm that evolved over Perseverance in early January 2022.

 

References

[1] Sánchez-Lavega, A. et al., Icarus 299, 194-205 (2018)

[2] Bell III, J. F. et al., J. Geophys. Res. Planets 114, E003315, 1-41 (2009)