Seasonal variations in low level flow in the NASA-Ames Mars GCM

Joshi, M.M. ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-2948-2811, Haberle, R.M., Schaeffer, J. and Barnes, J. (1997) Seasonal variations in low level flow in the NASA-Ames Mars GCM. Advances in Space Research, 19 (8). pp. 1261-1265. ISSN 0273-1177

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Abstract

The Martian Hadley circulation consists of two cells of different sizes at most times of the year, with one cell dominating near the solstices. The lower branch of this flow is strongly topographically controlled, especially east of the Tharsis plateau and Syrtis Major. Simulations using idealized topography show that longitudinal asymmetries in heating also play a role in forming the jets. Nearer the equinoxes, the total cross-equatorial flow intensity is reduced and the effect of the seasonal condensation flow is felt more strongly. Because of effects such as topography, zero cross-equatorial flow is not actually achieved at the equinoxes, but is slightly offset in time. Even when the mean flow is zero, the two jets are still present but flow in opposite directions: the Tharsis jet flows south and the Syrtis jet north. The latter is a result of the time-averaged effect of slope wind circulations. The two jets are still relatively intense at this time. For example, with an optical depth τ of 0.3, and at a height of 250 m, v̄ at L = 270° is about 9ms southward, while at 45°W v is 26 m s. At L = 350°, v̄ is 0.5 m s, while at 45°W it is still above 8 m s. The effect of atmospheric dust loading is also examined.

Item Type: Article
Faculty \ School: Faculty of Science > School of Environmental Sciences
University of East Anglia Research Groups/Centres > Theme - ClimateUEA
UEA Research Groups: University of East Anglia Schools > Faculty of Science > Tyndall Centre for Climate Change Research
Faculty of Science > Research Centres > Tyndall Centre for Climate Change Research
Faculty of Science > Research Groups > Climatic Research Unit
Faculty of Science > Research Groups > Centre for Ocean and Atmospheric Sciences
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Depositing User: Pure Connector
Date Deposited: 24 Feb 2014 12:48
Last Modified: 20 Oct 2023 00:57
URI: https://ueaeprints.uea.ac.uk/id/eprint/47772
DOI:

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