Propagation of tropospheric gravity waves into the upper atmosphere of Mars

To link to full-text access for this article, visit this link: http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.icarus.2009.04.031 Byline: Helen F. Parish (a), Gerald Schubert (b)(d), Michael P. Hickey (c), Richard L. Walterscheid (d) Keywords: Mars, atmosphere; Atmospheres, dynamics Abstract: We study the propagation of gravity waves in the martian atmosphere using a linearized one-dimensional full-wave model. Calculations are carried out for atmospheric parameters characteristic of Mars Orbiter Laser Altimeter (on Mars Global Surveyor MGS) observations of apparent gravity waves in high latitude clouds and MGS radio occultation measurements of temperature variations with height suggestive of gravity wave activity. Waves that reach the thermosphere produce fluctuations in density comparable in amplitude with the density variations detected in Mars Odyssey aerobraking data. Gravity waves of modest amplitude are found to deposit momentum and generate significant heating and cooling in the martian atmosphere. The largest heating and cooling effects occur in the thermosphere, at altitudes between about 130 and 150km, with heating occurring at the lower altitudes and cooling taking place above. Author Affiliation: (a) Institute of Geophysics and Planetary Physics, University of California, 603 Charles E. Young Dr. East, Los Angeles, CA 90095-1567, USA (b) Department of Earth and Space Sciences, Institute of Geophysics and Planetary Physics, University of California, 595 Charles E. Young Dr. East, Los Angeles, CA 90095-1567, USA (c) Department of Physical Sciences, Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, 600 S. Clyde Morris Blvd., Daytona Beach, FL 32114, USA (d) The Aerospace Corporation, P.O. Box 92957, Los Angeles, CA 90009, USA Article History: Received 28 March 2008; Revised 11 April 2009; Accepted 14 April 2009