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Analysis of the radiative budget of the Venusian atmosphere based on infrared Net Exchange Rate formalism
Lebonnois, Sébastien; Eymet, Vincent; Vatant d'Ollone, Jan +1 more
A detailed one-dimensional analysis of the energy balance in Venus atmosphere is proposed in this work, based on the Net Exchange Rate formalism that allows the identification in each altitude region of the dominant energy exchanges controlling the temperature. Well-known parameters that control the temperature profile are the solar flux depositio…
Compositional provinces of Mars from statistical analyses of TES, GRS, OMEGA and CRISM data
Rogers, A. Deanne; Hamilton, Victoria E.
identified 10 distinct classes of mineral assemblage on Mars through statistical analyses of mineral abundances derived from Mars Global Surveyor Thermal Emission Spectrometer (TES) data at a spatial resolution of 8 pixels per degree. Two classes are new regions in Sinus Meridiani and northern Hellas basin. Except for crystalline hematite abundanc…
Recent (Late Amazonian) enhanced backweathering rates on Mars: Paracratering evidence from gully alcoves
Conway, Susan J.; de Haas, Tjalling; Krautblatter, Michael
Mars is believed to have been exposed to low planet-wide weathering and denudation since the Noachian. However, the widespread occurrence of alcoves at the rim of pristine impact craters suggests locally enhanced recent backweathering rates. Here we derive Late Amazonian backweathering rates from the alcoves of 10 young equatorial and midlatitude …
History of the clay-rich unit at Mawrth Vallis, Mars: High-resolution mapping of a candidate landing site
Mangold, N.; Bibring, J. -P.; Poulet, F. +4 more
The Mawrth Vallis region is covered by some of the largest phyllosilicate-rich outcrops on Mars, making it a unique window into the past history of Mars in terms of water alteration, potential habitability, and the search for past life. A landing ellipse had been proposed for the Curiosity rover. This area has been extensively observed by the High…
The geological history of Nili Patera, Mars
Fawdon, P.; Skok, J. R.; Balme, M. R. +3 more
Nili Patera is a 50 km diameter caldera at the center of the Syrtis Major Planum volcanic province. The caldera is unique among Martian volcanic terrains in hosting: (i) evidence of both effusive and explosive volcanism, (ii) hydrothermal silica, and (iii) compositional diversity from olivine-rich basalts to silica-enriched units. We have produced…
Geologic evolution of the eastern Eridania basin: Implications for aqueous processes in the southern highlands of Mars
Le Deit, Laetitia; Hauber, Ernst; Jaumann, Ralf +1 more
The Terra Sirenum region of Mars is thought to have hosted the Eridania paleolake during the Late Noachian/Early Hesperian, and it offers an insight into the regional aqueous history of Mars. We focus on four basins, including Atlantis, Simois, Caralis, and an unnamed basin. They are hypothesized to have hosted isolated lakes after the drainage of…
Periodic variations of oxygen EUV dayglow in the upper atmosphere of Venus: Hisaki/EXCEED observations
Fedorov, A.; Futaana, Y.; Zhang, T. L. +14 more
Using the Extreme Ultraviolet Spectroscope for Exospheric Dynamics (EXCEED) aboard Hisaki and the Solar Extreme Ultraviolet Monitor on the Solar and Heliospheric Observatory, we investigate variations of the extreme ultraviolet (EUV) dayglow brightness for OII 83.4 nm, OI 130.4 nm, and OI 135.6 nm in the Venusian upper atmosphere observed in March…
Limited role for thermal erosion by turbulent lava in proximal Athabasca Valles, Mars
Williams, David A.; Dundas, Colin M.; Keszthelyi, Laszlo P. +1 more
The Athabasca Valles flood lava is among the most recent (<50 Ma) and best preserved effusive lava flows on Mars and was probably emplaced turbulently. The Williams et al. (2005) model of thermal erosion by lava has been applied to what we term "proximal Athabasca," the 75 km long upstream portion of Athabasca Valles. For emplacement volumes of…
Spectral comparison and stability of red regions on Jupiter
Simon, Amy A.; Sanchez-Lavega, Agustin; Legarreta, Jon +4 more
A rare red cyclone visible on Jupiter in 1994 and 1995 falls in a class of vortices that are intensely colored, yet low altitude, unlike the Great Red Spot (GRS). Dynamical modeling indicates that the presence of nearby anticyclones both aids in formation and lead to the destruction of the cyclone. A study of absolute spectral reflectance from Hub…
Evolution of Mars' northern polar seasonal CO2 deposits: Variations in surface brightness and bulk density
Titus, Timothy N.; Mount, Christopher P.
Small-scale variations of seasonal ice are explored at different geomorphic units on the Northern Polar Seasonal Cap (NPSC). We use seasonal rock shadow measurements, combined with visible and thermal observations, to calculate density over time. The coupling of volume density and albedo allows us to determine the microphysical state of the season…