Mars 2020 MEDA Measurements of Near Surface Atmospheric Temperatures at Jezero
Authors: Munguira Asier , Hueso Ricardo , Sánchez-Lavega Agustín , de la Torre-Juarez Manuel , Martínez Germán , Newman Claire , Banfield Donald , Lepinette Alain , Pla-García Jorge , Vicente-Retortillo Álvaro , Rodríguez-Manfredi Jose Antonio , Chide Baptiste , Bertrand Tanguy , Lemmon Mark , Sebastián Eduardo , Gómez-Elvira Javier , Lorenz Ralph ,   CAB Team (6)
Published: September 2022

&lt;p&gt;Since February 18, 2021, Perseverance has been exploring Jezero Crater (18&amp;#186;N, 77&amp;#186;E). The meteorology of this location is being investigated with the Mars Environmental Dynamics Analyzer (MEDA) [1], which among many other sensors has 5 Air Temperature Sensors (ATS) to measure near surface temperatures. These sensors are located at two altitudes: two are at 0.85 m, in the front of the rover, and three are at 1.45 m around the Remote Sensing Mast (RSM), distributed azimuthally so that at least one sensor is located upwind. Local air temperatures are measured with a frequency that can be as high as 2 Hz. In addition, the temperature of the surface and at an approximate altitude of about 40 m are measured with the Thermal Infrared Sensor (TIRS), which operates with a sampling frequency of 1 Hz. MEDA records atmospheric variables typically over 50% of a full sol.&amp;#160;&lt;/p&gt;
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&lt;p&gt;Here we present consolidated analysis of data up to sol 400, which covers a period from the start of northern Spring (Ls=5&amp;#186;) to early Autumn (beyond Ls=180&amp;#186;). This analysis takes into account different instrumental effects affecting ATS and TIRS which have been characterized over the course of the mission.&lt;/p&gt;
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&lt;p&gt;Firstly, we will present the daily temperature cycle at Jezero, including mean values and its fluctuations plus their daily and seasonal evolution. Hence, we report phenomena at various altitudes, in different time scales, ranging from thermal tides to continuous rapid fluctuations, as well as the effects caused by the different environments as Perseverance explores Jezero. The convective and calmed regimes, at daytime and nighttime respectively, and the transitions between them are well differentiated in the MEDA data and can be well characterized. We will also discuss vertical thermal gradients (surface to 40 m altitude) along the mission and the evolution of nighttime inversions. Secondly, we quantify the influence of different forcings on temperatures: The thermal changes associated with clouds, dust load, variations of the solar flux and changes in the surface properties on the ground and near-surface temperatures. Specific effects associated with a regional dust storm over Jezero will be presented. Lastly, we will comment on the comparison of temperatures at Jezero with in situ data from other locations [2-3] and models [4-5].&amp;#160;&lt;/p&gt;
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&lt;p&gt;[1] Rodriguez-Manfredi, J. A., et al. (2021). The Mars Environmental Dynamics Analyzer, MEDA. A suite of environmental sensors for the Mars 2020 mission. &lt;em&gt;Space science reviews, &lt;/em&gt;217(3), 1-86.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;[2] Davy, R., et al. (2010). Initial analysis of air temperature and related data from the Phoenix MET station and their use in estimating turbulent heat fluxes. &lt;em&gt;Journal of Geophysical Research: Planets&lt;/em&gt;, 115(E3).&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;[3] Mason, E. L., &amp; Smith, M. D. (2021). Temperature fluctuations and boundary layer turbulence as seen by Mars Exploration Rovers Miniature Thermal Emission Spectrometer. &lt;em&gt;Icarus&lt;/em&gt;, 360, 114350.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;[4] Newman et al. (2020). Multi-model Meteorological and Aeolian Predictions for Mars2020 and the Jezero Crater Region, &lt;em&gt;Space Sci. Rev.&amp;#160; &lt;/em&gt;215, 148.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;[5] Pla-Garc&amp;#237;a et al., (2020). Meteorological Predictions for Mars 2020 Perseverance Rover Landing Site at Jezero, &lt;em&gt;Space Sci. Rev&lt;/em&gt;., 215, 148.&lt;/p&gt;