Viking orbiter imaging observations of dust in the Martian atmosphere

Journal Article · Sun Jun 10 04:00:00 EDT 1979 · J. Geophys. Res.; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1029/JB084iB06p02795· OSTI ID:5982210

Briggs, G A; Baum, W A; Barnes, J

More than 20 local Martian dust clouds and two global dust storms were observed with the Viking orbiter camera. Sixteen of the local clouds were imaged in two colors or were observed with other instruments confirming their identification as dust clouds. These Viking results are compared with earth-based observations of Martian dust storms and with Mariner 9 data. Most of the dust activity seen by Viking occurred during southern hemisphere spring and early summer, when Mars was near perihelion and isolation was near maximum. About half the local clouds occurred near the edge of the southern polar cap, where winds are presumably enhanced by a strong regional temperature gradient. The other half occurred mainly in the southern hemisphere near regions where circulation models incorporating topography predict positive vertical velocities. Although dust clouds observed from earth show a similar partial correlation with models, some ambiguity exists concerning interpretation of regions near Hellespontus that have spawned the most spectacular Martian dust storms on record.

• Research Organization: Jet Propulsion Laboratory, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, California 91103
• OSTI ID: 5982210
• Journal Information: J. Geophys. Res.; (United States), Journal Name: J. Geophys. Res.; (United States) Vol. 84:B6; ISSN JGREA
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

640107* -- Astrophysics & Cosmology-- Planetary Phenomena
71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS
GENERAL PHYSICS
ATMOSPHERES
DISASTERS
DUSTS
MARS PLANET
PLANETARY ATMOSPHERES
PLANETS
POLAR REGIONS
SEASONAL VARIATIONS
SPACE VEHICLES
STORMS
TOPOGRAPHY
VARIATIONS
VIKING SPACE PROBES