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Produced by the NASA Center for Aerospace Information (CASI)
April 1985

.Q

CORNELL UNIVERSITY

Center for Radiophysics and Space Research

inHAU, N. Y.

FINAL TECHNICAL REPORT

for

NASA Grant NSG 7812

Participation in the Mars Data Analysis Programs:

Analysis of Cloud Forms in Viking and Mariner 9 Images

(National Aeronautics and Space Administration)

Principal Investigator: Professor Peter Gierasch

Co-Investigator: Dr. Ralph A. Kahn

(NISI -CH-115604 ) PlH Z ICI F lZICS I E THE d1BS N85 - 23673 DITI INILISIS PEOG EIR: IAILYSIS OF CLOUD

FORKS IN VIKIDG IDL CIEINBF 9 IMiGES Final

Technical Beport, 1 Mar. 1SE3 - 2E Feb. 1965 Unclas

(Cornell Univ.) 5 F HC 102/1F 101 CSCL 03B G3/91 14684

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1

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CORNELL UNIVERSITY

Center- for Radiophylicr and Space Research

SPACE SCIENCES BUILDING

Ithaca, New York 14853.0355

Final Report for NASA Grant NSG 7612 to Cornell University,

March 1, 1983 to February 28, 1985.

Title: "Participation in the Mars Data Analysis Program:

Analysis of Cloud Forms in Viking and Mariner 9 Images"

Principal Investigator: Dr. Peter J. Gierasch, Department of Astronomy,

Cornell University, Ithaca, N.Y. 14853

Co—Investigator: Dr. Ralph A. Rahn

Teter J. Xierasch dat Ralph A. Rahn date
All the major tasks funded under this grant were completed

within the granting period. The full cloud catalog for Mars,

including all imaging data from the Mariner 9 and Viking Missions,

is complete. It currently exists as a research tool in digital

form at Cornell and at Washington University, St. Louis.

i

Analysis of the globai-scale behavior of cloud forms has

been performed and the primary results appear as two studies,

published in the Journal of Geophysical Research (Kahn, 1983;

1984; reprints attached). Spinoffs from this task include

investigation of regional and local cloud behavior (e.g., Kahn and

Gierasch, 1982, reprint attached, and work currently in progress)

the effects of clouds on deductions about surface features and

surface processes (Arvidson, Guinness, and Kahn. in preparation),

and examination of global and local cloud behavior using vis and 

infrared data simultaneously (work currently in progress).

This project produced the first systematic account of the

climate of Mars, based upon observations. Cloud data were used to

determine spatially and temporally varying near-surface wind

direction, relative wind speed, static stability, and humidity

conditions on a global scale. Existing models of meteorological

processes were critically reexamined in light of the new data, and

more stringent constraints were set on global processes. Several

discoveries were made, including the large extent and seasonal

variability of the Mars equatorial Hadley cell, the failure of

high latitude winds to reverse direction in early northern spring,
2

the change in meridional wind component in southern midautumn, and

the almost constant cloud cover in the northern hemisphere, during

spring and summer primarily by condensate clouds and in fall and

winter by condensates and dust. The implications of these

observations have been discussed in our publications. In

addition, support was found for theoretical predictions about

seasonal variability in static stability, slope wir,c!s occurrence,

and relative wind speeds, and considerable detail that had

previously been lacking was obtained.

This work, and the continuing studies which it has

generated, are providing a better understanding of the processes

governing Martian climate, and are generating information critical

for the planning of the next mission to Mars.
ABSTRACTS OF ARTICLES PUBLISHED UNDER THIS GR/`..NT

JOURNAL OF GEOPHYSICAL RESEARCH. VOL. r. No. A:. PAGES 106-.-M. FEARLARY t. 191: 

Long Cloud Observations on Mars and Implications for Boundary Laver

Characteristics Over Slopes

RALPH KAHN AND PETER GIERASCH

Cemer for AAdsopsynci and Spere Aesserch. Canwil Ulsrvaim. At40ce, Bev York lid:'

Vikseg WWW seya of Man tbow se"M m UMM Of long WDUDuous Cb C formation on the

siom of Arsto abd Pavoms Moos. W e have saaeboo W Use wales of 1a punt: for erodun hopes of

such lonoLum. Od> in the Tbww moon .at kid clouds wmmbwdoy owuhrd uat we have

Idea s tped the teen and louti0os of ocxlttnee — the wavekogthr am wba poa"Dle. use apaaen:

volociry of eotsob td that alone". We nave also moulted the rte nputs of oavon of ripple Couds

tlsu are than loved Witt) Use sob{ formations. The blsg Cows are 00"Iveo Only to the nov morning

Bourn. "Waaums that they am aaaoeuud wpb drubw woods hue to a colt Wanetary bosta"ry lave'

We "vem "mitt taumom al cows to nadux vanous u pedis of such boelswar y laver wads.

Shea allow w to CObelrvot a Compett no selfaobsmzat CAPlanuan of W the OOearved features o`

toe Loud formations. We use the Mufti td Chwhamn some pbyucal properties of the Man

bouhdary layer. here u sung downabte Ave m the bounovv laver on we Imp slopat of boa:

vmcaom. It Use saddlt reaon brrwm the peaks the fla y abws and unoerpti; a hydraulic lump.

produWS{ the k" claws. Do-enrueam of the Jump. tabdmg imernal gnvity waves an east ano an

saatad by flow over srnqutanues. Satoh vattwu mt m loco oosavec wtvelemphs behind the

Jump eto y he wartbuted to variation It use flow speed am deptL FmWv. we Can account for the

Wcauoo of toe Jump M the variation of resatsve rusaIuh of the bouhoary lam flows on the two

vosnnol

JOURNAL OF GEOPHYSICAL RESEARCH VOL. U. NO Al:. PAGES 10.10—I0:09. DECEMBER :, im.

Some Observational Constraints on the Global-Scale 'vVind Svstems of Mars

Cnlsel: Usenet,

wrm dfr= m m mrm nu from a vattry of moutom ulm over several Man van am coveml

the edwt past. ban bees mlaeud. Thee MCJMW Obaervauo0 of We Wave 0000 to[ prevaoUS,

etudrd The date ea ttel l a Who daps of wasn"Caev am atasolsal reProduatiht y . MIAMI it pom p" to

towiprtt most of the oeearvancrin 1-1 terms of the -1 ) .% tymmetrx arnuauon of Man N6, namtne

Loose dau in the eebtect of the comtramu toe Daarved ;;w puce apes the tbalms, art

pour ap mats flux olds WWe-. items the bon. Witfut the Itmtuuons of toe tau acs, mw• tide

:.tp•AUImOt wads appear to be abetroUad b y tba tarmal 6aso during m and Lott simrlser an to w dwtr.

and to Lot apriherm smanphene dorm{ aal y aping and any sitmmer At other tomes, the a: Eon

dabmats At hip toutnod the stroopet venal% winos an probabiv pttmeratso b% cap foematsot to toe

mono add tip recession in souct:. The bebnpbsrc seymmslry wens to rwWt pndaniv from the

cdwU of 100641 owe "arms on the tta:h pour cap Tarnm{ of the proraer wind from poMward to

etwtorward m tmdaurtrmn is that, yae. iCb idural wilt reduced Potawart ma" flux no

menaio" temoanron Qadrbt at that ume. The untudma, tonal of the 80uaatul Hadlay OIL when

opsrvea. It Probably urger than that predwad 6y rrariv mvaaod models of iow .utttwe armuotuon. The

aaae+o t LVM Hadiw ale- act htgh•latitwe p6leward bon which occur in both hmwpbees during

the u®mer seuOns. awa y all 6"110wal ocla rtnmu On the thermal {orOng commmtsi0 at Lore time

JOl1RNAL OF GEOPHYSICAL RESEARCH VOL. 89. NO Ab. PAGES 6671-6666. AUGLST I. 19bThe Spatial and Seasonal Distribution of Martian Clouds

and Some Meteorological Implications

RA :.PH KAms

Cowl) Uatermy. A ura Nn York

The WatW and sasonal dauributwns of Manton amsoeplrnc eboua. orpmtae amordtal to cmpLe

morpnoictc mtsna aahibt^. dutrtic pattern When mterpmat adf.earsnrtnu. wing anuopes to

umstned tlOUd loons and Martian ampeura. whin an.etslm ant watt.W ewauresau Pattetras of pout Boourteme provide come boos eomrrstau on 10tau-rase seuwurlaa wind eased. static

nabtht, and ►tunsdll^ Wit an eaamaad alt M.anxt 9 and Vb7G1 UMIC ®a !se (Or tbu 2101: n

concentrate pr manl y on the .'lpr. VikIDg dais tie: Wbswver clowirstions an powbit. tetotnel y Wgr.

naer-surtax winds spout to below the aeaaobal cap foss dune{ orris ink lair winter. and tprmg.

Moderate to hi p winos art ant a4red in is"O.toulwan for mw southern wtnsr ano to bus lauttsoss.

ma gi. to the "eat, "opal areas of Thant. oaf the soatwa At Othe' tries. towel wta0 an

suspected Hern"wric asymmetries art tonic to difference in ti emitOn malt and to

global dust Corn: esutsd effects on the saoesppvtc temperature wrkmurt situ the soon Pour cap

recession schedule. Cloud to0vrrena eta atrpput that the oarywlae dav%tbe malx slt:wrrt+ ti tow It.

Nos northern Wnsipls^ duT.ng wmnter aid at I pso Autumns during ink Bonham string. Rmauva:y hip

static 614110110% a aucw war the watt pea W 10obally tonal Uri dust swim mmt In true of 0%

atmoepnmc temperatures. the WMSVOhttngl y low ahsotuat hUMAI" apprebtl p Waft the loemaDon of thtce rata we at hap tantwa in mid to bee amiumn also wmtr tit oepupMns ano

Iry southern ma-uutwa during sand rioter Dunn; sonbsm spool add summer saturation tonoitiomt rem to be auto , "M1111 at mtd•taattole. and 6oe0emeatr glows an abundan.. the situation u

compoissW by stmotnsrne dust to touthrr, firing am sunmir Lc,w lautwa posts f, sport to be

farther from saturation Irian mid-tatitwes, aoc tout. ymtrall^ fOM eon sssuy m the bonhirm 

nrnsrmhare then In the during e0}nepOedtmg dObs