Year: 2024
Type: article
Abstract: Atmospheric turbulence, irregular fluctuations of the fluid state, is studied on Mars. Universality of the turbulence spectrum underpins atmospheric models where computational requirements preclude full fidelity simulations of the smallest scales. However, there are discrepancies among reports on the existence and spectral location of universal scaling in Martian atmospheric data. Here, results indicate the smallest resolvable structures from Martian wind speed data are still associated with the energetic regime, which may ultimately explain why multiple reports have not found a consistent Kolmogorov-like spectral regime on Mars. Universal spectral scaling of wind data from Perseverance’s Mars Environmental Dynamics Analyzer is used to estimate the thresholds that separate three turbulence regimes: energetic, inertial, and molecular dissipation. Wind measurements at 2-Hz, the fastest sampling rate for direct wind sensor measurements on Mars, resolves turbulence in the energetic regime and approaches the inertial regime, which is consistent with reported Martian dust devil sizes. Editor’s Summary: Observations of turbulence scaling in the Martian atmosphere are limited by the sampling frequency of current apparatus, which could explain discrepancies in previous results, suggests an analysis of data from the Mars Environmental Dynamics Analyzer.
Language: English
Subfield: Astronomy and Astrophysics
Field: Physics and Astronomy
Domain: Physical Sciences
Open Access status: gold
Estimated APC paid: $3,290
Funders: U.S. Department of Defense, National Aeronautics and Space Administration, California Institute of Technology, Agence Nationale de la Recherche, Centre National d’Etudes Spatiales, Fonds Wetenschappelijk Onderzoek, Nuclear Safety and Security Commission, Vlaamse regering, Jet Propulsion Laboratory, National Defense Science and Engineering Graduate, Space Technology Mission Directorate
Awards: G2676722403, G3010527862, G3648211085, THIS EFFORT WILL USE APSS PRESSURE AND WIND DATA TO NOT ONLY DETECT BUT IDENTIFY THE SIZE AND TRAJECTORY OF CONVECTIVE VORTICES SUCH AS DUST DEVILS USING METHODS PROVEN WITH TERRESTRIAL FIELD DATA (LORENZ ICARUS 271 326-337). ORBITAL DATA SHOW THAT DUST DEVILS FORM ABUNDANT TRACKS AT THE INSIGHT LANDING SITE (REISS AND LORENZ ICARUS 266 315-330). THE PROPOSER HAS DEMONSTRATED THAT THE LOW PRESSURE CORES OF SUCH VORTICES ACTING AS A NEGATIVE LOAD ON THE GROUND CREATES A PROMINENT SIGNATURE IN SURFACE TILT WHICH WILL BE DETECTABLE BY THE INSIGHT SEIS INSTRUMENT (LORENZ ET AL. BULL. SEISMOLOGICAL SOC. AM. 105 3015-3023). EVEN COARSE SEIS DATA CAN HELP RESOLVE AMBIGUITIES IN TRAJECTORY RETRIEVAL AND THE GOAL OF THIS INVESTIGATION WILL BE TO PRODUCE A CATALOG OF WELL-CHARACTERIZED VORTEX ENCOUNTERS. THIS CATALOG WILL BE MADE AVAILABLE TO ALLOW THE ESTIMATION OF GROUND ELASTIC PROPERTIES FROM THE TILT MEASUREMENT AND TO SEARCH FOR POSSIBLE SIGNATURES OF DUST DEVIL ENCOUNTER IN OTHER INSIGHT INSTRUMENTATION INCLUDING THE RADIOMETER IFG AND HP3 (E.G. LORENZ ICARUS 250 262-267). THIS PROPOSAL RESPONDS DIRECTLY TO THE SOLICITATION BY BROADENING SCIENTIFIC PARTICIPATION AND INVESTIGATING ATMOSPHERIC PHENOMENA AND SURFACE INTERACTIONS., G4654178392, G830101876, High-resolution modeling of the cloud layer of Venus: Applied to potential volcanic outgassing and atmospheric habitability, MArs Geophysical InSight, Global circulation and mesoscale modeling of the Martian atmosphere: Applied to the detection of subsurface liquid water
OpenAlex ID: W4403460758