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A. Inada, M. I. Richardson (California Institute of Technology), M. A. Mischna (Jet Propulsion Laboratory), C. E. Newman (California Institute of Technology), A. D. Toigo (Graduate School of Science and Technology, Kobe Univ.), A. R. Vasavada (Jet Propulsion Laboratory)
The variation of water vapour near the Martian surface will be influenced by exchange with the subsurface, condensation on the surface and in the atmosphere, mixing between the boundary layer and the free atmosphere, and the large-scale horizontal mixing of air masses. In order to isolate column processes from those of transport, we have developed a “complete” model of column water cycling based around a one-dimensional version of the Martian Weather Research and Forecast (WRF) model. Explicitly treated processes include subsurface water diffusion and adsorptive/condensational exchange, surface ice formation, diffusive mixing in the atmosphere, and the microphysics of atmospheric cloud/fog formation and sedimentation. The formation of surface ices and clouds/fogs allow for the activation of feedback systems due to their influence on the radiative heating of the surface and hence the surface energy balance and temperature. The model is used to assess the variation of cloud/fog vertical structure and water vapour at likely Phoenix and MSL landing sites (for which fog and water vapour measurements, respectively, are planned for collection). The implication of cloud radiative effects for retrieval of surface thermal properties will also be discussed.
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Bulletin of the American Astronomical Society, 37 #3
© 2004. The American Astronomical Soceity.