Characterizing Dust-Radiation Feedback and Refining the Horizontal Resolution of the MarsWRF Model Down to 0.5 Degree

In the Mars atmosphere, the combination of airborne dust and radiation has multiplying effects, which are termed “positive feedbacks.” For instance, dust storms intensify when exposed to sun light: temperature differences between warm and cold air are enhanced and winds become stronger, that is, pos...

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Detalles Bibliográficos
Autores: Gebhardt, C., Abuelgasim, A., Fonseca, R. M., Martín Torres, Javier, Zorzano, María-Paz
Tipo de recurso: artículo
Estado:Versión publicada
Fecha de publicación:2021
País:España
Institución:Instituto Nacional de Técnica Aeroespacial (INTA)
Repositorio:DIGITAL.INTA Repositorio Digital del Instituto Nacional de Técnica Aeroespacial
OAI Identifier:oai:digital.inta.es:20.500.12666/541
Acceso en línea:https://agupubs.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1029/2020JE006672
http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.12666/541
Access Level:acceso abierto
Palabra clave:Dust Cycle
Radiation feedback
Interactive Dust
Model Resolution
Descripción
Sumario:In the Mars atmosphere, the combination of airborne dust and radiation has multiplying effects, which are termed “positive feedbacks.” For instance, dust storms intensify when exposed to sun light: temperature differences between warm and cold air are enhanced and winds become stronger, that is, positive feedback. We run a Mars General Circulation Model, or more precisely, the Mars Weather Research and Forecasting Model, with and without such feedbacks. In addition, we refine the spatial resolution of the model from 2° to 0.5° latitude and longitude. Overall, we quantify the impact of feedbacks and spatial resolution on the outcome of model simulations. For that, we compare patterns of dust exchange between the surface and atmosphere between different model simulations. We find that the strength of the positive feedbacks may change considerably from place to place. For the 0.5° resolution, winds are planet wide much more effective in eroding surface dust, including an exception governed by the unique local topography at the Elysium Mons volcano.