Search Publications
The current weather and climate of Mars: 12 years of atmospheric monitoring by the Planetary Fourier Spectrometer on Mars Express
Aoki, Shohei; Formisano, V.; Giuranna, Marco +5 more
We used thermal-infrared spectra returned by the Mars Express Planetary Fourier Spectrometer (PFS/MEx) to retrieve atmospheric temperature profiles, surface temperatures, and column-integrated optical depths of dust and water ice. More than 2,500,000 spectra were processed to build this new atmospheric dataset, covering the full range of season, l…
Study of the hydrogen escape rate at Mars during martian years 28 and 29 from comparisons between SPICAM/Mars express observations and GCM-LMD simulations
Lopez-Valverde, M. A.; Forget, F.; Montmessin, F. +10 more
We have simulated the 3D atomic hydrogen density in the Martian upper atmosphere and associated Jeans escape rate during Martian years 28 and 29. The coronal Lyman-α brightness is computed using a 3D radiative transfer model which accounts for the monthly average hydrogen density for these two years and is compared to a large set of observations b…
The lower dayside ionosphere of Mars from 14 years of MaRS radio science observations
Tellmann, Silvia; Pätzold, Martin; González-Galindo, Francisco +5 more
This work uses a subset of "quiet" MaRS ionospheric dayside observations (MaRSquiet, 2004-2017) and a 1-D photochemical model (IonA-2) to investigate the potential formation processes of the excess electron densities merged with the base of the main ionosphere (Mm). 42% of the investigated MaRS observations contain identified Mm, which …
Sinuous ridges in Chukhung crater, Tempe Terra, Mars: Implications for fluvial, glacial, and glaciofluvial activity
Conway, Susan J.; Balme, Matthew R.; Lewis, Stephen R. +6 more
We present a geomorphic map of Chukhung crater (38.47°N, 72.42°W) in central Tempe Terra, Mars. Chukhung crater formed ~3.6-2.1 Ga, between the early Hesperian and early Amazonian periods of Mars' geologic history. It hosts dendritic networks of crater wall valleys, broad crater floor valleys, mid- to late-Amazonian-aged debris-covered glaciers, m…
Morphological comparison of blocks in chaos terrains on Pluto, Europa, and Mars
Skjetne, Helle L.; Singer, Kelsi N.; Hynek, Brian M. +12 more
Chaotic terrains are characterized by disruption of preexisting surfaces into irregularly arranged mountain blocks with a "chaotic" appearance. Several models for chaos formation have been proposed, but the formation and evolution of this enigmatic terrain type has not yet been fully constrained. We provide extensive mapping of the individual bloc…
A global investigation of wrinkle ridge formation events; Implications towards the thermal evolution of Mars
Ruj, Trishit; Kawai, Kenji
Wrinkle ridges (WR) are well-established paleo-stress indicators providing information on the compressional history and thermal evolution of Mars. Therefore, constraining their timing of formation on a global scale could yield better insight into the tectonic history, evolution of the mantle, and the paleoclimate of the planet. Here, we have updat…
Martian cloud climatology and life cycle extracted from Mars Express OMEGA spectral images
Bibring, Jean-Pierre; Langevin, Yves; Gondet, Brigitte +7 more
A Martian water-ice cloud climatology has been extracted from OMEGA data covering 7 Martian years (MY 26-32) on the dayside. We derived two products, the Reversed Ice Cloud Index (ICIR) and the Percentage of Cloudy Pixels (PCP), indicating the mean cloud thickness and nebulosity over a regular grid (1° longitude × 1° latitude × 1° Ls × 1 h Local T…
Retrieval of the water ice column and physical properties of water-ice clouds in the martian atmosphere using the OMEGA imaging spectrometer
Bellucci, G.; Forget, F.; Oliva, F. +8 more
Using spectral images recorded by the OMEGA instrument on Mars Express (Observatoire pour la Minéralogie, l'Eau, les Glaces et l'Activité), we are able to derive physical properties of aerosols in water-ice clouds on Mars for a distribution of pixels over an observed cloud formation. These properties, mean effective radius, reff, and op…
Local topography effects on the surface temperatures on Mars - Application to the case of Recurring Slope Lineae (RSL)
Quantin-Nataf, Cathy; Leyrat, Cédric; Millot, Cédric +1 more
Recurring Slope Lineae (RSL) are dark linear recurrent features which incrementally lengthen and fade each year on Martian slopes. Their activity during warmest seasons rises the question of modern martian water related process. To investigate this question, this study focuses on the thermal context of slopes hosting RSL. The paper presents a nume…
Spectrophotometric properties of materials observed by Pancam on the Mars Exploration Rovers: 4. Final mission observations
Johnson, Jeffrey R.; Grundy, William M.; Lemmon, Mark T. +4 more
The last sets of Panoramic Camera (Pancam) visible/near-infrared (432-1009 nm) multispectral observations made under varying viewing and illumination geometries by the Mars Exploration Rovers Spirit and Opportunity were examined using radiative transfer models to study the surface scattering and microphysical nature of rock and soil units at both …