Search Publications
Strong Variability of Martian Water Ice Clouds During Dust Storms Revealed From ExoMars Trace Gas Orbiter/NOMAD
Vandaele, Ann Carine; Aoki, Shohei; Thomas, Ian +12 more
Observations of water ice clouds and aerosols on Mars can provide important insights into the complexity of the water cycle. Recent observations have indicated an important link between dust activity and the water cycle, as intense dust activity can significantly raise the hygropause, and subsequently increase the escape of water after dissociatio…
Properties of Water Ice and Dust Particles in the Atmosphere of Mars During the 2018 Global Dust Storm as Inferred From the Atmospheric Chemistry Suite
Grigoriev, A.; Montmessin, F.; Fedorova, A. +6 more
The properties of Martian aerosols are an integral part of the planetary climatology. Global dust storms (GDS) significantly alter spatial and vertical distributions of dust and water ice aerosols and their microphysical properties. We explored the 2018/Martian year 34 GDS with the Atmospheric Chemistry Suite instrument onboard the ESA-Roscosmos T…
Synergistic Ground and Orbital Observations of Iron Oxides on Mt. Sharp and Vera Rubin Ridge
Arvidson, R. E.; Morris, R. V.; Pinet, P. +12 more
Visible/short-wave infrared spectral data from the Compact Reconnaissance Imaging Spectrometer for Mars (CRISM) show absorptions attributed to hematite at Vera Rubin ridge (VRR), a topographic feature on northwest Mt. Sharp. The goals of this study are to determine why absorptions caused by ferric iron are strongly visible from orbit at VRR and to…
Martian Water Ice Clouds During the 2018 Global Dust Storm as Observed by the ACS-MIR Channel Onboard the Trace Gas Orbiter
Montmessin, F.; Fedorova, A.; Korablev, O. +8 more
The Atmospheric Chemistry Suite (ACS) instrument onboard the ExoMars Trace Gas Orbiter (TGO) European Space Agency-Roscosmos mission began science operations in March 2018. ACS Mid-InfraRed (MIR) channel notably provides solar occultation observations of the Martian atmosphere in the 2.3- to 4.2-µ m spectral range. Here, we use these observa…
Assessment of InSight Landing Site Predictions
Golombek, M.; Williams, N.; Charalambous, C. +5 more
Comprehensive analysis of remote sensing data used to select the Interior Exploration using Seismic Investigations, Geodesy and Heat Transport (InSight) landing site correctly predicted the atmospheric temperature and pressure profile during entry and descent, the safe landing surface, and the geologic setting of the site. The smooth plains upon w…
Similarities and Differences of Global Dust Storms in MY 25, 28, and 34
Grassi, D.; Giuranna, M.; Amoroso, M. +2 more
To better understand the dust cycle on Mars during years with planet-encircling dust storms, we analyze the last three events that took place in Mars Year (MY) 25, MY 28, and MY 34. Global dust storms that occurred in MY 25 and MY 34 (June 2018) were taking place during equinox, while the MY 28 storm had an onset after perihelion. Before the expan…
Variations in the Ionospheric Peak Altitude at Mars in Response to Dust Storms: 13 Years of Observations From the Mars Express Radar Sounder
Gurnett, D. A.; Němec, F.; Morgan, D. D. +7 more
Previous observations have shown that, during Martian dust storms, the peak of the ionosphere rises in altitude. Observational studies of this type, however, have been extremely limited. Using 13 years of ionospheric peak altitude data from the Mars Advanced Radar for Subsurface and Ionosphere Sounding instrument on Mars Express, we study how the …
Aram Dorsum: An Extensive Mid-Noachian Age Fluvial Depositional System in Arabia Terra, Mars
Sefton-Nash, Elliot; Williams, Rebecca M. E.; Fawdon, Peter +5 more
A major debate in Mars science is the nature of the early Mars climate, and the availability of precipitation and runoff. Observations of relict erosional valley networks have been proposed as evidence for extensive surface runoff around the Noachian-Hesperian boundary. However, these valley networks only provide a time-integrated record of landsc…
Magnetic Properties of Asteroid (162173) Ryugu
Motschmann, Uwe; Fujimoto, Masaki; Richter, Ingo +22 more
Observations of the magnetization state of asteroids indicate diverse properties. Values between 1.9 × 10-6 Am2/kg (Eros) and 10-2 Am2/kg (Braille) have been reported. A more detailed understanding of asteroidal magnetic properties allows far-reaching conclusions of the magnetization mechanism as well as…
The Bathymetry of Moray Sinus at Titan's Kraken Mare
Lunine, J. I.; Hayes, A. G.; Le Gall, A. +4 more
Moray Sinus is an estuary located at the northern end of Titan's Kraken Mare. The Cassini RADAR altimeter acquired three segments over this mare during the T104 flyby of Titan, on August 21, 2014. Herein, we present a detailed analysis of the received echoes. Some of these waveforms exhibit a reflection from the seafloor, from up to 85-18+28 m of …