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S. C. R. Rafkin (Dept. Meteorology, San Jose State University), R. M. Haberle (NASA-AMES Research Center)
The core dynamics of the Regional Atmospheric Modeling System (RAMS)--a widely-used and powerful mesoscale model used to study the Earth's atmosphere--has been adapted to the Martian atmosphere. Three-dimensional simulations of atmospheric flows interacting with impact craters are described in the context of aeolian surface features that have been imaged from recent Mars missions. The model is initialized with a variety of thermodynamic and wind profiles representing nocturnal, daytime, and idealized case studies. Results indicate a wide variety of behaviors that include downstream wind amplification, downstream wind reversals and return flows, complex wake vortices, upstream blocking, and low-level barrier jets. Some of the simulated flows are consistent with the processes thought responsible for the creation of so-called light and dark streaks emanating from craters. Plans for future work are also described, including the implementation of an appropriate radiation scheme, thermal tide parameterization, condensation physics, and dust loading and deposition parameterization.
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The author(s) of this abstract have provided an email address for comments about the abstract: rafkin@metsun1.sjsu.edu