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A. D. Toigo, M. I. Richardson (California Institute of Technology)
The Martian cap edge region is characterized by high surface winds which are driven by the large surface thermal contrast. For this study we have converted the NCAR MM5V2 mesoscale model to Mars. The model includes atmospheric dust, representation of the polar ice cap, detailed topography, thermal and albedo maps derived by Vasavada et al. (1999), and boundary conditions provided by the GFDL Mars Global Circulation Model (MGCM). We will show time evolving circulation patterns for a range of different thermal contrasts and different seasons.