Exploration of Mars in the SPICAM-IR experiment onboard the Mars-Express spacecraft: 2. Nadir observations: Simultaneous observations of water vapor and O₂ glow in the Martian atmosphere

Abstract

The SPICAM experiment onboard the Mars-Express spacecraft includes sounding the Martian atmosphere in the ultra-violet (118 320 nm) and near IR (1 1.7 μm) ranges. The infrared spectrometer operates in the range of 1 1.7 μm with a resolution of 3.5 cm^-1 in the mode of nadir observations and solar and stellar occulations. This paper is devoted to analyzing the basic results of nadir observations of the infra-red SPICAM channel during the first Martian year of the instrument operation: from January 2004 to November 2005. One of the primary goals of SPICAM-IR is water vapor monitoring in the atmosphere of Mars in the band of 1.37 μm and ozone abundance determination from the day-time airglow of molecular oxygen O₂( a ¹Δ_g) in the band of 1.27 μm. Simultaneous measurements of these minor constituents of the planet are necessary for understanding photochemical processes in the Martian atmosphere. The degree of their anticorrelation and a comparison with the results of photochemical modeling of the atmosphere will contribute to our knowledge of the Martian atmosphere stability.