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1. Improving resilience of sensors in planetary exploration using data-driven models

Author

Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya. Doctorat en Enginyeria Electrònica, Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya. Departament d'Enginyeria Electrònica, Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya. MNT-Solar - Grup de Micro i Nano Tecnologies per Energia Solar, Kumar, Dileep, Domínguez Pumar, Manuel, Sayrol Clos, Elisa, Torres Redondo, Josefina, Marín Jiménez, Mercedes, Gómez-Elvira Rodríguez, Javier, Mora Sotomayor, Luis, Navarro Lopez, Sara, Rodríguez Manfredi, José Antonio, Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya. Doctorat en Enginyeria Electrònica, Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya. Departament d'Enginyeria Electrònica, Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya. MNT-Solar - Grup de Micro i Nano Tecnologies per Energia Solar, Kumar, Dileep, Domínguez Pumar, Manuel, Sayrol Clos, Elisa, Torres Redondo, Josefina, Marín Jiménez, Mercedes, Gómez-Elvira Rodríguez, Javier, Mora Sotomayor, Luis, Navarro Lopez, Sara, and Rodríguez Manfredi, José Antonio

Abstract

Improving the resilience of sensor systems in space exploration is a key objective since the environmental conditions to which they are exposed are very harsh. For example, it is known that the presence of flying debris and Dust Devils on the Martian surface can partially damage sensors present in rovers/landers. The objective of this work is to show how data-driven methods can improve sensor resilience, particularly in the case of complex sensors, with multiple intermediate variables, feeding an inverse algorithm (IA) based on calibration data. The method considers three phases: an initial phase in which the sensor is calibrated in the laboratory and an IA is designed; a second phase, in which the sensor is placed at its intended location and sensor data is used to train data-driven model; and a third phase, once the model has been trained and partial damage is detected, in which the data-driven algorithm is reducing errors. The proposed method is tested with the intermediate data of the wind sensor of the TWINS instrument (NASA InSight mission), consisting of two booms placed on the deck of the lander, and three boards per boom. Wind speed and angle are recovered from the intermediate variables provided by the sensor and predicted by the proposed method. A comparative analysis of various data-driven methods including machine learning and deep learning (DL) methods is carried out for the proposed research. It is shown that even a simple method such as k-nearest neighbor is capable of successfully recovering missing data of a board compared to complex DL models. Depending on the selected missing board, errors are reduced by a factor between 2.43 and 4.78, for horizontal velocity; and by a factor between 1.74 and 4.71, for angle, compared with the situation of using only the two remaining boards., Postprint (published version)

Published
2023

2. Nocturnal Turbulence at Jezero Crater as Determined From MEDA Measurements and Modeling

Author

Física aplicada I, Fisika aplikatua I, Plá García, Jorge, Munguira Ruiz, Asier, Rafkin, Scot, Newman, Claire E., Bertrand, Tanguy, Martínez, Germán, Hueso Alonso, Ricardo, Sánchez Lavega, Agustín María, Del Río Gaztelurrutia, María Teresa, Stott, Alexander E., Murdoch, Naomi, de la Torre Juárez, Manuel, Lemmon, Mark T., Chide, Baptiste, Viúdez Moreiras, Daniel, Savijärvi, Hannu, Richardson, Mark I., Marín Jiménez, Mercedes, Sebastián, Eduardo, Lepinette, Alain, Mora Sotomayor, Luis, Rodríguez Manfredi, José Antonio, Física aplicada I, Fisika aplikatua I, Plá García, Jorge, Munguira Ruiz, Asier, Rafkin, Scot, Newman, Claire E., Bertrand, Tanguy, Martínez, Germán, Hueso Alonso, Ricardo, Sánchez Lavega, Agustín María, Del Río Gaztelurrutia, María Teresa, Stott, Alexander E., Murdoch, Naomi, de la Torre Juárez, Manuel, Lemmon, Mark T., Chide, Baptiste, Viúdez Moreiras, Daniel, Savijärvi, Hannu, Richardson, Mark I., Marín Jiménez, Mercedes, Sebastián, Eduardo, Lepinette, Alain, Mora Sotomayor, Luis, and Rodríguez Manfredi, José Antonio

Abstract

Mars 2020 Mars Environmental Dynamics Analyzer (MEDA) instrument data acquired during half of a Martian year (Ls 13°–180°), and modeling efforts with the Mars Regional Atmospheric Modeling System (MRAMS) and the Mars Climate Database (MCD) enable the study of the seasonal evolution and variability of nocturnal atmospheric turbulence at Jezero crater. Nighttime conditions in Mars's Planetary Boundary Layer are highly stable because of strong radiative cooling that efficiently inhibits convection. However, MEDA nighttime observations of simultaneous rapid fluctuations in horizontal wind speed and air temperatures suggest the development of nighttime turbulence in Jezero crater. Mesoscale modeling with MRAMS also shows a similar pattern and enables us to investigate the origins of this turbulence and the mechanisms at play. As opposed to Gale crater, less evidence of turbulence from breaking mountain wave activity was found in Jezero during the period studied with MRAMS. On the contrary, the model suggests that nighttime turbulence at Jezero crater is explained by increasingly strong wind shear produced by the development of an atmospheric bore-like disturbance at the nocturnal inversion interface. These atmospheric bores are produced by downslope winds from the west rim undercutting a strong low-level jet aloft from ∼19:00 to 01:00 LTST and from ∼01:00 LTST to dawn when undercutting weak winds aloft. The enhanced wind shear leads to a reduction in the Richardson number and an onset of mechanical turbulence. Once the critical Richardson Number is reached (Ri ∼ <0.25), shear instabilities can mix warmer air aloft down to the surface.

Published
2023

3. Martian Wind and turbulence heard by the SuperCam microphone on the perseverance rover

Author

Stott, Alexander, primary, Murdoch, Naomi, additional, Gillier, Martin, additional, Banfield, Don, additional, Bertrand, Tanguy, additional, Chide, Baptiste, additional, De la Torre Juarez, Manuel, additional, Hueso, Ricardo, additional, Lorenz, Ralph, additional, Martinez, German, additional, Munguira, Asier, additional, Mora Sotomayor, Luis, additional, Navarro, Sara, additional, Newman, Claire, additional, Pilleri, Paolo, additional, Pla-Garcia, Jorge, additional, Randazzo, Nicolas, additional, Rodriguez Manfredi, Jose Antonio, additional, Sanchez-Lavega, Agustin, additional, Smith, Michael, additional, Viudez Moreiras, Daniel, additional, Williams, Nathan, additional, Maurice, Sylvestre, additional, Wiens, Roger, additional, and Mimoun, David, additional

Published
2023
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4. The dynamic atmospheric and aeolian environment of Jezero crater, Mars

Author

Física aplicada I, Fisika aplikatua I, Newman, Claire E., Hueso Alonso, Ricardo, Lemmon, Mark T., Munguira Ruiz, Asier, Vicente Retortillo, Álvaro, Apestigue, Victor, Martínez, Germán, Toledo, Daniel, Sullivan, Rob, Herkenhoff, Kenneth, de la Torre Juárez, Manuel, Richardson, Mark I., Stott, Alexander E., Murdoch, Naomi, Sánchez Lavega, Agustín María, Wolff, Michael J., Arruego, Ignacio, Sebastián, Eduardo, Navarro, Sara, Gómez Elvira, Javier, Tamppari, Leslie, Viúdez Moreiras, Daniel, Harri, Ari Matti, Genzer, Maria, Hieta, Maria, Lorenz, Ralph D., Conrad, Pan, Gómez, Felipe, McConnochie, Timothy, Mimoun, David, Tate, Christian, Bertrand, Tanguy, Bell, James, Maki, Justin N., Rodríguez Manfredi, José Antonio, Wiens, Roger C., Chide, Baptiste, Maurice, Sylvestre, Zorzano, María Paz, Mora Sotomayor, Luis, Baker, Mariah M., Banfield, Don, Plá García, Jorge, Beyssac, Olivier, Brown, Adrian, Clark, Ben, Lepinette, Alain, Montmessin, Franck, Fischer, Erik, Patel, Priyaben, Del Río Gaztelurrutia, María Teresa, Fouchet, Thierry, Francis, Raymond, Guzewich, Scott, Física aplicada I, Fisika aplikatua I, Newman, Claire E., Hueso Alonso, Ricardo, Lemmon, Mark T., Munguira Ruiz, Asier, Vicente Retortillo, Álvaro, Apestigue, Victor, Martínez, Germán, Toledo, Daniel, Sullivan, Rob, Herkenhoff, Kenneth, de la Torre Juárez, Manuel, Richardson, Mark I., Stott, Alexander E., Murdoch, Naomi, Sánchez Lavega, Agustín María, Wolff, Michael J., Arruego, Ignacio, Sebastián, Eduardo, Navarro, Sara, Gómez Elvira, Javier, Tamppari, Leslie, Viúdez Moreiras, Daniel, Harri, Ari Matti, Genzer, Maria, Hieta, Maria, Lorenz, Ralph D., Conrad, Pan, Gómez, Felipe, McConnochie, Timothy, Mimoun, David, Tate, Christian, Bertrand, Tanguy, Bell, James, Maki, Justin N., Rodríguez Manfredi, José Antonio, Wiens, Roger C., Chide, Baptiste, Maurice, Sylvestre, Zorzano, María Paz, Mora Sotomayor, Luis, Baker, Mariah M., Banfield, Don, Plá García, Jorge, Beyssac, Olivier, Brown, Adrian, Clark, Ben, Lepinette, Alain, Montmessin, Franck, Fischer, Erik, Patel, Priyaben, Del Río Gaztelurrutia, María Teresa, Fouchet, Thierry, Francis, Raymond, and Guzewich, Scott

Abstract

Despite the importance of sand and dust to Mars geomorphology, weather, and exploration, the processes that move sand and that raise dust to maintain Mars' ubiquitous dust haze and to produce dust storms have not been well quantified in situ, with missions lacking either the necessary sensors or a sufficiently active aeolian environment. Perseverance rover's novel environmental sensors and Jezero crater's dusty environment remedy this. In Perseverance's first 216 sols, four convective vortices raised dust locally, while, on average, four passed the rover daily, over 25% of which were significantly dusty ("dust devils"). More rarely, dust lifting by nonvortex wind gusts was produced by daytime convection cells advected over the crater by strong regional daytime upslope winds, which also control aeolian surface features. One such event covered 10 times more area than the largest dust devil, suggesting that dust devils and wind gusts could raise equal amounts of dust under nonstorm conditions.

Published
2022

5. Overview of Near-Surface Atmospheric Processes at Jezero from Meda Observations

Author

de la Torre-Juárez, Manuel, Rodríguez Manfredi, Jose, Martínez, Germán, Newman, Claire, Lemmon, Mark, Hueso, Ricardo, Munguira, Asier, Tamppari, Leslie, Sanchez-Lavega, Augustin, Apestigue, Victor, Arruego, Ignacio, Banfield, Donald, Boland, Justin, Conrad, Pamela, del Rio, Teresa, Vicente -Retortillo, Álvaro, Dominguez-Pumar, Manuel, Fischer, Erik, Genzer, Maria, Gimenez, S., Gómez Elvira, Javier, Gómez, Felipe, Guzewich, Scott, Harri, Ari-Matti, Hieta, M., Jimenez, Victor, Lepinette, Alain, Marín, M., Martin-Rubio, Carolina, Molina, Antonio, Montmessin, Franck, Mora-Sotomayor, Luis, Navarro, Sara, Peinado, Veronica, Pérez‐hoyos, Santiago, Pla‐garcía, Jorge, Polkko, Jouni, Romeral, Julio, Romero, C., Savijärvi, Hannu, Sebastian, E., Smith, M.D., Sullivan, Rob, Tate, Christian, Toledo-Carrasco, Daniel, Torres, Josefina, Urquí, Roser, Viudez-Moreiras, Daniel, Wolff, Michael, Zorzano, Maria-Paz, Zurita, Sofia, and Cardon, Catherine

Subjects
[SDU] Sciences of the Universe [physics]
Published
2022

6. The Mars Environmental Dynamics Analyzer, MEDA. A Suite of Environmental Sensors for the Mars 2020 Mission

Author

Ministerio de Economía y Competitividad (España), Ministerio de Ciencia, Innovación y Universidades (España), Instituto Nacional de Técnica Aeroespacial (España), Centro para el Desarrollo Tecnológico Industrial (España), Eusko Jaurlaritza, European Research Council, Rodríguez Manfredi, José Antonio, Torre Juárez, M. de la, Alonso, A., Apéstigue, V., Arruego, I., Atienza, T., Banfield, D., Boland, J., Carrera, M. A., Castañer, L., Ceballos-Cáceres, J., Chen-Chen, H, Cobos, A., Conrad, P.G., Cordoba, E., Río Gaztelurrutia, Teresa del, de Vicente Retortillo, A., Domínguez-Pumar, M., Díaz-Espejo, Antonio, González Fairén, Alberto, Fernández-Palma, A., Ferrándiz, Ricardo, Ferri, F., Fischer, E., García-Manchado, A., García-Villadangos, Miriam, Genzer, M., Giménez, S., Gómez-Elvira, Javier, Gómez, Felipe, Guzewich, Scott D., Harri, A-M, Hernández, C.D., Hieta, M., Hueso, R., Jaakonaho, I., Jiménez, J. J., Jiménez, V., Larman, A., Leiter, R., Lepinette, Alain, Lemmon, M.T., López, G, Madsen, S.N., Mäkinen, T., Marín, M., Martín Soler, Javier, Martínez, G., Molina-Jurado, Antonio, Mora Sotomayor, Luis, Moreno-Álvarez, J. F., Navarro, Sara, Newman, C E, Ortega, C., Parrondo, M.C., Peinado, Verónica, Peña, A., Pérez-Grande, I., Pérez-Hoyos, S., Pla-García, Jorge, Polkko, J., Postigo Cacho, Marina, Prieto-Ballesteros, Olga, Rafkin, Scot C. R., Ramos, M. Ángeles, Richardson, M. I., Romeral Planelló, Julio J., Romero, C, Runyon, K D, Saiz-Lopez, A., Sánchez-Lavega, A., Sard, I., Schofield, J. T., Sebastián-Martínez, Eduardo, Smith, M D, Sullivan, R J, Tamppari, L K, Thompson, A D, Toledo, D, Torrero, F, Torres-Redondo, Josefina, Urquí, R., Velasco, T., Viúdez-Moreiras, Daniel, Zurita, S., Ministerio de Economía y Competitividad (España), Ministerio de Ciencia, Innovación y Universidades (España), Instituto Nacional de Técnica Aeroespacial (España), Centro para el Desarrollo Tecnológico Industrial (España), Eusko Jaurlaritza, European Research Council, Rodríguez Manfredi, José Antonio, Torre Juárez, M. de la, Alonso, A., Apéstigue, V., Arruego, I., Atienza, T., Banfield, D., Boland, J., Carrera, M. A., Castañer, L., Ceballos-Cáceres, J., Chen-Chen, H, Cobos, A., Conrad, P.G., Cordoba, E., Río Gaztelurrutia, Teresa del, de Vicente Retortillo, A., Domínguez-Pumar, M., Díaz-Espejo, Antonio, González Fairén, Alberto, Fernández-Palma, A., Ferrándiz, Ricardo, Ferri, F., Fischer, E., García-Manchado, A., García-Villadangos, Miriam, Genzer, M., Giménez, S., Gómez-Elvira, Javier, Gómez, Felipe, Guzewich, Scott D., Harri, A-M, Hernández, C.D., Hieta, M., Hueso, R., Jaakonaho, I., Jiménez, J. J., Jiménez, V., Larman, A., Leiter, R., Lepinette, Alain, Lemmon, M.T., López, G, Madsen, S.N., Mäkinen, T., Marín, M., Martín Soler, Javier, Martínez, G., Molina-Jurado, Antonio, Mora Sotomayor, Luis, Moreno-Álvarez, J. F., Navarro, Sara, Newman, C E, Ortega, C., Parrondo, M.C., Peinado, Verónica, Peña, A., Pérez-Grande, I., Pérez-Hoyos, S., Pla-García, Jorge, Polkko, J., Postigo Cacho, Marina, Prieto-Ballesteros, Olga, Rafkin, Scot C. R., Ramos, M. Ángeles, Richardson, M. I., Romeral Planelló, Julio J., Romero, C, Runyon, K D, Saiz-Lopez, A., Sánchez-Lavega, A., Sard, I., Schofield, J. T., Sebastián-Martínez, Eduardo, Smith, M D, Sullivan, R J, Tamppari, L K, Thompson, A D, Toledo, D, Torrero, F, Torres-Redondo, Josefina, Urquí, R., Velasco, T., Viúdez-Moreiras, Daniel, and Zurita, S.

Abstract

NASA's Mars 2020 (M2020) rover mission includes a suite of sensors to monitor current environmental conditions near the surface of Mars and to constrain bulk aerosol properties from changes in atmospheric radiation at the surface. The Mars Environmental Dynamics Analyzer (MEDA) consists of a set of meteorological sensors including wind sensor, a barometer, a relative humidity sensor, a set of 5 thermocouples to measure atmospheric temperature at ∼1.5 m and ∼0.5 m above the surface, a set of thermopiles to characterize the thermal IR brightness temperatures of the surface and the lower atmosphere. MEDA adds a radiation and dust sensor to monitor the optical atmospheric properties that can be used to infer bulk aerosol physical properties such as particle size distribution, non-sphericity, and concentration. The MEDA package and its scientific purpose are described in this document as well as how it responded to the calibration tests and how it helps prepare for the human exploration of Mars. A comparison is also presented to previous environmental monitoring payloads landed on Mars on the Viking, Pathfinder, Phoenix, MSL, and InSight spacecraft.

Published
2021

7. The atmosphere of Mars as observed by InSight

Author

Banfield, D., Viúdez-Moreiras, Daniel, Pla-García, Jorge, Mora Sotomayor, Luis, Navarro, Sara, Torres-Redondo, Josefina, Lepinette, Alain, Molina, A., Marin-Jimenez, Mercedes, Gómez-Elvira, Javier, Peinado, Verónica, Rodríguez Manfredi, J.A., Banerdt, William B., Banfield, D., Viúdez-Moreiras, Daniel, Pla-García, Jorge, Mora Sotomayor, Luis, Navarro, Sara, Torres-Redondo, Josefina, Lepinette, Alain, Molina, A., Marin-Jimenez, Mercedes, Gómez-Elvira, Javier, Peinado, Verónica, Rodríguez Manfredi, J.A., and Banerdt, William B.

Abstract

The atmosphere of Mars is thin, although rich in dust aerosols, and covers a dry surface. As such, Mars provides an opportunity to expand our knowledge of atmospheres beyond that attainable from the atmosphere of the Earth. The InSight (Interior Exploration using Seismic Investigations, Geodesy and Heat Transport) lander is measuring Mars’s atmosphere with unprecedented continuity, accuracy and sampling frequency. Here we show that InSight unveils new atmospheric phenomena at Mars, especially in the higher-frequency range, and extends our understanding of Mars’s meteorology at all scales. InSight is uniquely sensitive to large-scale and regional weather and obtained detailed in situ coverage of a regional dust storm on Mars. Images have enabled high-altitude wind speeds to be measured and revealed airglow—faint emissions produced by photochemical reactions—in the middle atmosphere. InSight observations show a paradox of aeolian science on Mars: despite having the largest recorded Martian vortex activity and dust-devil tracks close to the lander, no visible dust devils have been seen. Meteorological measurements have produced a catalogue of atmospheric gravity waves, which included bores (soliton-like waves). From these measurements, we have discovered Martian infrasound and unexpected similarities between atmospheric turbulence on Earth and Mars. We suggest that the observations of Mars’s atmosphere by InSight will be key for prediction capabilities and future exploration.

Published
2020

8. Location and Setting of the Mars InSight Lander, Instruments, and Landing Site

Author

Golombek, M., Williams, N., Warner, N.H., Parker, T., Williams, M.G, Daubar, I., Calef, F.J., Grant, J., Bailey, P., Abarca, H., Deen, R., Ruoff, N., Maki, Justin, McEwen, A., Baugh, N., Block, K, Tamppari, L., Call, J., Ladewig, J., Stoltz, A., Weems, W.A., Mora Sotomayor, Luis, Torres, J., Johnson, M., Kennedy, T, Sklyanskiy, E., Golombek, M., Williams, N., Warner, N.H., Parker, T., Williams, M.G, Daubar, I., Calef, F.J., Grant, J., Bailey, P., Abarca, H., Deen, R., Ruoff, N., Maki, Justin, McEwen, A., Baugh, N., Block, K, Tamppari, L., Call, J., Ladewig, J., Stoltz, A., Weems, W.A., Mora Sotomayor, Luis, Torres, J., Johnson, M., Kennedy, T, and Sklyanskiy, E.

Abstract

Knowing precisely where a spacecraft lands on Mars is important for understanding the regional and local context, setting, and the offset between the inertial and cartographic frames. For the InSight spacecraft, the payload of geophysical and environmental sensors also particularly benefits from knowing exactly where the instruments are located. A ~30 cm/pixel image acquired from orbit after landing clearly resolves the lander and the large circular solar panels. This image was carefully georeferenced to a hierarchically generated and coregistered set of decreasing resolution orthoimages and digital elevation models to the established positive east, planetocentric coordinate system. The lander is located at 4.502384°N, 135.623447°E at an elevation of −2,613.426 m with respect to the geoid in Elysium Planitia. Instrument locations (and the magnetometer orientation) are derived by transforming from Instrument Deployment Arm, spacecraft mechanical, and site frames into the cartographic frame. A viewshed created from 1.5 m above the lander and the high-resolution orbital digital elevation model shows the lander is on a shallow regional slope down to the east that reveals crater rims on the east horizon ~400 m and 2.4 km away. A slope up to the north limits the horizon to about 50 m away where three rocks and an eolian bedform are visible on the rim of a degraded crater rim. Azimuths to rocks and craters identified in both surface panoramas and high-resolution orbital images reveal that north in the site frame and the cartographic frame are the same (within 1°).

Published
2020

9. Evidence for indigenous nitrogen in sedimentary and aeolian deposits from the Curiosity rover investigations at Gale crater, Mars

Author

Stern, Jennifer C., Sutter, Brad, Freissinet, Caroline, Navarro-González, Rafael, McKay, Christopher P., Archer, P. Douglas, Buch, Arnaud, Brunner, Anna E., Coll, Patrice, Eigenbrode, Jennifer L., Fairen, Alberto G., Franz, Heather B., Glavin, Daniel P., Kashyap, Srishti, McAdam, Amy C., Ming, Douglas W., Steele, Andrew, Szopa, Cyril, Wray, James J., Martín-Torres, F. Javier, Zorzano, Maria-Paz, Conrad, Pamela G., Mahaffy, Paul R., Kemppinen, Osku, Bridges, Nathan, Johnson, Jeffrey R., Minitti, Michelle, Cremers, David, Bell, James F., Edgar, Lauren, Farmer, Jack, Godber, Austin, Wadhwa, Meenakshi, Wellington, Danika, McEwan, Ian, Newman, Claire, Richardson, Mark, Charpentier, Antoine, Peret, Laurent, King, Penelope, Blank, Jennifer, Weigle, Gerald, Schmidt, Mariek, Li, Shuai, Milliken, Ralph, Robertson, Kevin, Sun, Vivian, Baker, Michael, Edwards, Christopher, Ehlmann, Bethany, Farley, Kenneth, Griffes, Jennifer, Grotzinger, John, Miller, Hayden, Newcombe, Megan, Pilorget, Cedric, Rice, Melissa, Siebach, Kirsten, Stack, Katie, Stolper, Edward, Brunet, Claude, Hipkin, Victoria, Léveillé, Richard, Marchand, Geneviève, Sánchez, Pablo Sobrón, Favot, Laurent, Cody, George, Flückiger, Lorenzo, Lees, David, Nefian, Ara, Martin, Mildred, Gailhanou, Marc, Westall, Frances, Israël, Guy, Agard, Christophe, Baroukh, Julien, Donny, Christophe, Gaboriaud, Alain, Guillemot, Philippe, Lafaille, Vivian, Lorigny, Eric, Paillet, Alexis, Pérez, René, Saccoccio, Muriel, Yana, Charles, Armiens-Aparicio, Carlos, Rodríguez, Javier Caride, Blázquez, Isaías Carrasco, Gómez, Felipe Gómez, Gómez-Elvira, Javier, Hettrich, Sebastian, Malvitte, Alain Lepinette, Jiménez, Mercedes Marín, Martínez-Frías, Jesús, Martín-Soler, Javier, Torres, F. Javier Martín, Jurado, Antonio Molina, Mora-Sotomayor, Luis, Caro, Guillermo Muñoz, López, Sara Navarro, Peinado-González, Verónica, Pla-García, Jorge, Manfredi, José Antonio Rodriguez, Romeral-Planelló, Julio José, Fuentes, Sara Alejandra Sans, Martinez, Eduardo Sebastian, Redondo, Josefina Torres, Urqui-O'Callaghan, Roser, Mier, María-Paz Zorzano, Chipera, Steve, Lacour, Jean-Luc, Mauchien, Patrick, Sirven, Jean-Baptiste, Manning, Heidi, Fairén, Alberto, Hayes, Alexander, Joseph, Jonathan, Squyres, Steven, Sullivan, Robert, Thomas, Peter, Dupont, Audrey, Lundberg, Angela, Melikechi, Noureddine, Mezzacappa, Alissa, DeMarines, Julia, Grinspoon, David, Reitz, Günther, Prats, Benito, Atlaskin, Evgeny, Genzer, Maria, Harri, Ari-Matti, Haukka, Harri, Kahanpää, Henrik, Kauhanen, Janne, Paton, Mark, Polkko, Jouni, Schmidt, Walter, Siili, Tero, Fabre, Cécile, Wray, James, Wilhelm, Mary Beth, Poitrasson, Franck, Patel, Kiran, Gorevan, Stephen, Indyk, Stephen, Paulsen, Gale, Gupta, Sanjeev, Bish, David, Schieber, Juergen, Gondet, Brigitte, Langevin, Yves, Geffroy, Claude, Baratoux, David, Berger, Gilles, Cros, Alain, d’Uston, Claude, Forni, Olivier, Gasnault, Olivier, Lasue, Jérémie, Lee, Qiu-Mei, Maurice, Sylvestre, Meslin, Pierre-Yves, Pallier, Etienne, Parot, Yann, Pinet, Patrick, Schröder, Susanne, Toplis, Mike, Lewin, Éric, Brunner, Will, Heydari, Ezat, Achilles, Cherie, Oehler, Dorothy, Cabane, Michel, Coscia, David, Dromart, Gilles, Robert, François, Sautter, Violaine, Le Mouélic, Stéphane, Mangold, Nicolas, Nachon, Marion, Stalport, Fabien, François, Pascaline, Raulin, François, Teinturier, Samuel, Cameron, James, Clegg, Sam, Cousin, Agnès, DeLapp, Dorothea, Dingler, Robert, Jackson, Ryan Steele, Johnstone, Stephen, Lanza, Nina, Little, Cynthia, Nelson, Tony, Wiens, Roger C., Williams, Richard B., Jones, Andrea, Kirkland, Laurel, Treiman, Allan, Baker, Burt, Cantor, Bruce, Caplinger, Michael, Davis, Scott, Duston, Brian, Edgett, Kenneth, Fay, Donald, Hardgrove, Craig, Harker, David, Herrera, Paul, Jensen, Elsa, Kennedy, Megan R., Krezoski, Gillian, Krysak, Daniel, Lipkaman, Leslie, Malin, Michael, McCartney, Elaina, McNair, Sean, Nixon, Brian, Posiolova, Liliya, Ravine, Michael, Salamon, Andrew, Saper, Lee, Stoiber, Kevin, Supulver, Kimberley, Van Beek, Jason, Van Beek, Tessa, Zimdar, Robert, French, Katherine Louise, Iagnemma, Karl, Miller, Kristen, Summons, Roger, Goesmann, Fred, Goetz, Walter, Hviid, Stubbe, Johnson, Micah, Lefavor, Matthew, Lyness, Eric, Breves, Elly, Dyar, M. Darby, Fassett, Caleb, Blake, David F., Bristow, Thomas, DesMarais, David, Edwards, Laurence, Haberle, Robert, Hoehler, Tori, Hollingsworth, Jeff, Kahre, Melinda, Keely, Leslie, McKay, Christopher, Bleacher, Lora, Brinckerhoff, William, Choi, David, Conrad, Pamela, Dworkin, Jason P., Eigenbrode, Jennifer, Floyd, Melissa, Garvin, James, Glavin, Daniel, Harpold, Daniel, Mahaffy, Paul, Martin, David K., McAdam, Amy, Pavlov, Alexander, Raaen, Eric, Smith, Michael D., Stern, Jennifer, Tan, Florence, Trainer, Melissa, Meyer, Michael, Posner, Arik, Voytek, Mary, Anderson, Robert C, Aubrey, Andrew, Beegle, Luther W., Behar, Alberto, Blaney, Diana, Brinza, David, Calef, Fred, Christensen, Lance, Crisp, Joy A., DeFlores, Lauren, Feldman, Jason, Feldman, Sabrina, Flesch, Gregory, Hurowitz, Joel, Jun, Insoo, Keymeulen, Didier, Maki, Justin, Mischna, Michael, Morookian, John Michael, Parker, Timothy, Pavri, Betina, Schoppers, Marcel, Sengstacken, Aaron, Simmonds, John J., Spanovich, Nicole, Juarez, Manuel de la Torre, Vasavada, Ashwin R., Webster, Christopher R., Yen, Albert, Archer, Paul Douglas, Cucinotta, Francis, Jones, John H., Ming, Douglas, Morris, Richard V., Niles, Paul, Rampe, Elizabeth, Nolan, Thomas, Fisk, Martin, Radziemski, Leon, Barraclough, Bruce, Bender, Steve, Berman, Daniel, Dobrea, Eldar Noe, Tokar, Robert, Vaniman, David, Williams, Rebecca M. E., Yingst, Aileen, Lewis, Kevin, Leshin, Laurie, Cleghorn, Timothy, Huntress, Wesley, Manhès, Gérard, Hudgins, Judy, Olson, Timothy, Stewart, Noel, Sarrazin, Philippe, Grant, John, Vicenzi, Edward, Wilson, Sharon A., Bullock, Mark, Ehresmann, Bent, Hamilton, Victoria, Hassler, Donald, Peterson, Joseph, Rafkin, Scot, Zeitlin, Cary, Fedosov, Fedor, Golovin, Dmitry, Karpushkina, Natalya, Kozyrev, Alexander, Litvak, Maxim, Malakhov, Alexey, Mitrofanov, Igor, Mokrousov, Maxim, Nikiforov, Sergey, Prokhorov, Vasily, Sanin, Anton, Tretyakov, Vladislav, Varenikov, Alexey, Vostrukhin, Andrey, Kuzmin, Ruslan, Clark, Benton, Wolff, Michael, McLennan, Scott, Botta, Oliver, Drake, Darrell, Bean, Keri, Lemmon, Mark, Schwenzer, Susanne P., Anderson, Ryan B., Herkenhoff, Kenneth, Lee, Ella Mae, Sucharski, Robert, Hernández, Miguel Ángel de Pablo, Ávalos, Juan José Blanco, Ramos, Miguel, Kim, Myung-Hee, Malespin, Charles, Plante, Ianik, Muller, Jan-Peter, Ewing, Ryan, Boynton, William, Downs, Robert, Fitzgibbon, Mike, Harshman, Karl, Morrison, Shaunna, Dietrich, William, Kortmann, Onno, Palucis, Marisa, Sumner, Dawn Y., Williams, Amy, Lugmair, Günter, Wilson, Michael A., Rubin, David, Jakosky, Bruce, Balic-Zunic, Tonci, Frydenvang, Jens, Jensen, Jaqueline Kløvgaard, Kinch, Kjartan, Koefoed, Asmus, Madsen, Morten Bo, Stipp, Susan Louise Svane, Boyd, Nick, Campbell, John L., Gellert, Ralf, Perrett, Glynis, Pradler, Irina, VanBommel, Scott, Jacob, Samantha, Owen, Tobias, Rowland, Scott, Savijärvi, Hannu, Boehm, Eckart, Böttcher, Stephan, Burmeister, Sönke, Guo, Jingnan, Köhler, Jan, García, César Martín, Mueller-Mellin, Reinhold, Wimmer-Schweingruber, Robert, Bridges, John C., McConnochie, Timothy, Benna, Mehdi, Franz, Heather, Bower, Hannah, Brunner, Anna, Blau, Hannah, Boucher, Thomas, Carmosino, Marco, Atreya, Sushil, Elliott, Harvey, Halleaux, Douglas, Rennó, Nilton, Wong, Michael, Pepin, Robert, Elliott, Beverley, Spray, John, Thompson, Lucy, Gordon, Suzanne, Newsom, Horton, Ollila, Ann, Williams, Joshua, Vasconcelos, Paulo, Bentz, Jennifer, Nealson, Kenneth, Popa, Radu, Kah, Linda C., Moersch, Jeffrey, Tate, Christopher, Day, Mackenzie, Kocurek, Gary, Hallet, Bernard, Sletten, Ronald, Francis, Raymond, McCullough, Emily, Cloutis, Ed, ten Kate, Inge Loes, Arvidson, Raymond, Fraeman, Abigail, Scholes, Daniel, Slavney, Susan, Stein, Thomas, Ward, Jennifer, Berger, Jeffrey, Moores, John E., NASA Goddard Space Flight Center (GSFC), NASA Johnson Space Center (JSC), NASA, Laboratorio de Química de Plasmas y Estudios Planetarios [Mexico], Instituto de Ciencias Nucleares [Mexico], Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México = National Autonomous University of Mexico (UNAM)-Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México = National Autonomous University of Mexico (UNAM), NASA Ames Research Center (ARC), Laboratoire de Génie des Procédés et Matériaux - EA 4038 (LGPM), CentraleSupélec, ASU School of Earth and Space Exploration (SESE), Arizona State University [Tempe] (ASU), Laboratoire Interuniversitaire des Systèmes Atmosphériques (LISA (UMR_7583)), Institut national des sciences de l'Univers (INSU - CNRS)-Université Paris Diderot - Paris 7 (UPD7)-Université Paris-Est Créteil Val-de-Marne - Paris 12 (UPEC UP12)-Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS), Department of Astronomy [Ithaca], Cornell University [New York], Centro de Astrobiologia [Madrid] (CAB), Instituto Nacional de Técnica Aeroespacial (INTA)-Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas [Madrid] (CSIC), Center for Research and Exploration in Space Science and Technology [GSFC] (CRESST), Centre de Recherche Public Henri Tudor [Technoport] (CRP Henri Tudor), Centre de Recherche Public Henri-Tudor [Luxembourg] (CRP Henri-Tudor), Department of Microbiology [Amherst], University of Massachusetts [Amherst] (UMass Amherst), University of Massachusetts System (UMASS)-University of Massachusetts System (UMASS), Astromaterials Research and Exploration Science (ARES), NASA-NASA, Geophysical Laboratory [Carnegie Institution], Carnegie Institution for Science, PLANETO - LATMOS, Laboratoire Atmosphères, Milieux, Observations Spatiales (LATMOS), Université de Versailles Saint-Quentin-en-Yvelines (UVSQ)-Université Pierre et Marie Curie - Paris 6 (UPMC)-Institut national des sciences de l'Univers (INSU - CNRS)-Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS)-Université de Versailles Saint-Quentin-en-Yvelines (UVSQ)-Université Pierre et Marie Curie - Paris 6 (UPMC)-Institut national des sciences de l'Univers (INSU - CNRS)-Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS), School of Earth and Atmospheric Sciences [Atlanta], Georgia Institute of Technology [Atlanta], Instituto Andaluz de Ciencias de la Tierra (IACT), Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas [Madrid] (CSIC)-Universidad de Granada (UGR), Department of Computer Science, Electrical and Space Engineering [Luleå], Luleå University of Technology (LUT), Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México (UNAM)-Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México (UNAM), Carnegie Institution for Science [Washington], Universidad de Granada (UGR)-Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas [Madrid] (CSIC), Université Paris-Est Créteil Val-de-Marne - Paris 12 (UPEC UP12)-Institut national des sciences de l'Univers (INSU - CNRS)-Université Paris Diderot - Paris 7 (UPD7)-Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS), Cornell University, Instituto Nacional de Técnica Aeroespacial (INTA)-Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas [Spain] (CSIC), Department of Microbiology, IMPEC - LATMOS, Universidad de Granada (UGR)-Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas [Spain] (CSIC), and Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas [Madrid] (CSIC)-Universidad de Granada = University of Granada (UGR)

Subjects
Martian, Multidisciplinary, 010504 meteorology & atmospheric sciences, Water on Mars, nitrates, astrobiology, [SDU.ASTR.EP]Sciences of the Universe [physics]/Astrophysics [astro-ph]/Earth and Planetary Astrophysics [astro-ph.EP], Mars, Mars Exploration Program, 01 natural sciences, nitrogen, Astrobiology, Curiosity, 13. Climate action, Rocknest, 0103 physical sciences, Sample Analysis at Mars, Physical Sciences, Aeolian processes, Composition of Mars, 010303 astronomy & astrophysics, Nitrogen cycle, Geology, 0105 earth and related environmental sciences
Abstract

International audience; The Sample Analysis at Mars (SAM) investigation on the Mars Science Laboratory (MSL) Curiosity rover has detected oxidized nitrogen-bearing compounds during pyrolysis of scooped aeolian sediments and drilled sedimentary deposits within Gale crater. Total N concentrations ranged from 20 to 250 nmol N per sample. After subtraction of known N sources in SAM, our results support the equivalent of 110–300 ppm of nitrate in the Rocknest (RN) aeolian samples, and 70–260 and 330–1,100 ppm nitrate in John Klein (JK) and Cumberland (CB) mudstone deposits, respectively. Discovery of indigenous martian nitrogen in Mars surface materials has important implications for habitability and, specifically, for the potential evolution of a nitrogen cycle at some point in martian history. The detection of nitrate in both wind-drifted fines (RN) and in mudstone (JK, CB) is likely a result of N2 fixation to nitrate generated by thermal shock from impact or volcanic plume lightning on ancient Mars. Fixed nitrogen could have facilitated the development of a primitive nitrogen cycle on the surface of ancient Mars, potentially providing a biochemically accessible source of nitrogen.

Published
2015
Full Text
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10. Curiosity's rover environmental monitoring station: Overview of the first 100 sols

Author

Gómez-Elvira, Javier, Armiens, Carlos, Carrasco, Isaías, Genzer, Maria, Gómez-Gómez, Felipe, Haberle, Robert, Hamilton, Victoria E., Harri, Ari-Matti, Kahanpää, Henrik, Kemppinen, Osku, Lepinette, Alain, Martín Soler, Javier, Martín-Torres, F. J., Martínez-Frías, J., Mischna, Michael, Mora Sotomayor, Luis, Navarro, Sara, Newman, C.E., Pablo, Miguel A. de, Peinado, Verónica, Polkko, Jouni, Rafkin, Scot C. R., Ramos, Miguel, Rennó, Nilton O., Richardson, Mark, Rodríguez-Manfredi, José Antonio, Romeral Planelló, Julio J., Sebastián-Martínez, Eduardo, Torre Juárez, Manuel de la, Torres-Redondo, Josefina, Urquí, Roser, Vasavada, Ashwin R., Verdasca, José, Zorzano, María Paz, Gómez-Elvira, Javier, Armiens, Carlos, Carrasco, Isaías, Genzer, Maria, Gómez-Gómez, Felipe, Haberle, Robert, Hamilton, Victoria E., Harri, Ari-Matti, Kahanpää, Henrik, Kemppinen, Osku, Lepinette, Alain, Martín Soler, Javier, Martín-Torres, F. J., Martínez-Frías, J., Mischna, Michael, Mora Sotomayor, Luis, Navarro, Sara, Newman, C.E., Pablo, Miguel A. de, Peinado, Verónica, Polkko, Jouni, Rafkin, Scot C. R., Ramos, Miguel, Rennó, Nilton O., Richardson, Mark, Rodríguez-Manfredi, José Antonio, Romeral Planelló, Julio J., Sebastián-Martínez, Eduardo, Torre Juárez, Manuel de la, Torres-Redondo, Josefina, Urquí, Roser, Vasavada, Ashwin R., Verdasca, José, and Zorzano, María Paz

Abstract

In the first 100 Martian solar days (sols) of the Mars Science Laboratory mission, the Rover Environmental Monitoring Station (REMS) measured the seasonally evolving diurnal cycles of ultraviolet radiation, atmospheric pressure, air temperature, ground temperature, relative humidity, and wind within Gale Crater on Mars. As an introduction to several REMS-based articles in this issue, we provide an overview of the design and performance of the REMS sensors and discuss our approach to mitigating some of the difficulties we encountered following landing, including the loss of one of the two wind sensors. We discuss the REMS data set in the context of other Mars Science Laboratory instruments and observations and describe how an enhanced observing strategy greatly increased the amount of REMS data returned in the first 100 sols, providing complete coverage of the diurnal cycle every 4 to 6 sols. Finally, we provide a brief overview of key science results from the first 100 sols. We found Gale to be very dry, never reaching saturation relative humidities, subject to larger diurnal surface pressure variations than seen by any previous lander on Mars, air temperatures consistent with model predictions and abundant short timescale variability, and surface temperatures responsive to changes in surface properties and suggestive of subsurface layering.

Published
2014

11. The atmosphere of Mars as observed by InSight

Author

Banfield, Don, Spiga, Aymeric, Newman, Claire, Forget, François, Lemmon, Mark, Lorenz, Ralph, Murdoch, Naomi, Viudez-Moreiras, Daniel, Pla-Garcia, Jorge, Garcia, Raphael F., Logonne, Philippe, Karatekin, Ozgur, Perrin, Clement, Martire, Leo, Teanby, Nicholas, Van Hove, Bart, Maki, Justin N., Kenda, Balthasar, Mueller, Nils T., Rodriguez, Sebastian, Kawamura, Taichi, McClean, John B., Stott, Alexander E., Charalambous, Constantinos, Millour, Ehouran, Johnson, Catherine L., Mittelholz, Anna, Maattanen, Anni, Lewis, Stephen, Clinton, John, Stahler, Simon C., Ceylan, Savas, Giardini, Domenico, Warren, Tristram, Pike, William T., Daubar, Ingrid, Golombek, Matthew, Rolland, Lucie, Widmer-Schnidrig, Rudolf, Mimoun, David, Beucler, Eric, Jacob, Alice, Lucas, Antoine, Baker, Mariah, Ansan, Veronique, Hurst, Kenneth, Mora-Sotomayor, Luis, Navarro, Sara, Torres, Josefina, Lepinette, Alain, Molina, Antonio, Marin-Jimenez, Mercedes, Gomez-Elvira, Javier, Peinado, Veronica, Rodriguez-Manfredi, Jose-Antonio, Carcich, Brian T., Sackett, Stephen, Russell, Christopher T., Spohn, Tilman, Smrekar, Suzanne E., Banerdt, W. Bruce, Banfield, Don, Spiga, Aymeric, Newman, Claire, Forget, François, Lemmon, Mark, Lorenz, Ralph, Murdoch, Naomi, Viudez-Moreiras, Daniel, Pla-Garcia, Jorge, Garcia, Raphael F., Logonne, Philippe, Karatekin, Ozgur, Perrin, Clement, Martire, Leo, Teanby, Nicholas, Van Hove, Bart, Maki, Justin N., Kenda, Balthasar, Mueller, Nils T., Rodriguez, Sebastian, Kawamura, Taichi, McClean, John B., Stott, Alexander E., Charalambous, Constantinos, Millour, Ehouran, Johnson, Catherine L., Mittelholz, Anna, Maattanen, Anni, Lewis, Stephen, Clinton, John, Stahler, Simon C., Ceylan, Savas, Giardini, Domenico, Warren, Tristram, Pike, William T., Daubar, Ingrid, Golombek, Matthew, Rolland, Lucie, Widmer-Schnidrig, Rudolf, Mimoun, David, Beucler, Eric, Jacob, Alice, Lucas, Antoine, Baker, Mariah, Ansan, Veronique, Hurst, Kenneth, Mora-Sotomayor, Luis, Navarro, Sara, Torres, Josefina, Lepinette, Alain, Molina, Antonio, Marin-Jimenez, Mercedes, Gomez-Elvira, Javier, Peinado, Veronica, Rodriguez-Manfredi, Jose-Antonio, Carcich, Brian T., Sackett, Stephen, Russell, Christopher T., Spohn, Tilman, Smrekar, Suzanne E., and Banerdt, W. Bruce

Abstract

The atmosphere of Mars is thin, although rich in dust aerosols, and covers a dry surface. As such, Mars provides an opportunity to expand our knowledge of atmospheres beyond that attainable from the atmosphere of the Earth. The InSight (Interior Exploration using Seismic Investigations, Geodesy and Heat Transport) lander is measuring Mars’s atmosphere with unprecedented continu- ity, accuracy and sampling frequency. Here we show that InSight unveils new atmospheric phenomena at Mars, especially in the higher-frequency range, and extends our understanding of Mars’s meteorology at all scales. InSight is uniquely sensitive to large- scale and regional weather and obtained detailed in situ coverage of a regional dust storm on Mars. Images have enabled high- altitude wind speeds to be measured and revealed airglow—faint emissions produced by photochemical reactions—in the middle atmosphere. InSight observations show a paradox of aeolian science on Mars: despite having the largest recorded Martian vortex activity and dust-devil tracks close to the lander, no visible dust devils have been seen. Meteorological measurements have pro- duced a catalogue of atmospheric gravity waves, which included bores (soliton-like waves). From these measurements, we have discovered Martian infrasound and unexpected similarities between atmospheric turbulence on Earth and Mars. We suggest that the observations of Mars’s atmosphere by InSight will be key for prediction capabilities and future exploration.

12. The atmosphere of Mars as observed by InSight

Author

Banfield, Don, Spiga, Aymeric, Newman, Claire, Forget, François, Lemmon, Mark, Lorenz, Ralph, Murdoch, Naomi, Viudez-Moreiras, Daniel, Pla-Garcia, Jorge, Garcia, Raphael F., Logonne, Philippe, Karatekin, Ozgur, Perrin, Clement, Martire, Leo, Teanby, Nicholas, Van Hove, Bart, Maki, Justin N., Kenda, Balthasar, Mueller, Nils T., Rodriguez, Sebastian, Kawamura, Taichi, McClean, John B., Stott, Alexander E., Charalambous, Constantinos, Millour, Ehouran, Johnson, Catherine L., Mittelholz, Anna, Maattanen, Anni, Lewis, Stephen, Clinton, John, Stahler, Simon C., Ceylan, Savas, Giardini, Domenico, Warren, Tristram, Pike, William T., Daubar, Ingrid, Golombek, Matthew, Rolland, Lucie, Widmer-Schnidrig, Rudolf, Mimoun, David, Beucler, Eric, Jacob, Alice, Lucas, Antoine, Baker, Mariah, Ansan, Veronique, Hurst, Kenneth, Mora-Sotomayor, Luis, Navarro, Sara, Torres, Josefina, Lepinette, Alain, Molina, Antonio, Marin-Jimenez, Mercedes, Gomez-Elvira, Javier, Peinado, Veronica, Rodriguez-Manfredi, Jose-Antonio, Carcich, Brian T., Sackett, Stephen, Russell, Christopher T., Spohn, Tilman, Smrekar, Suzanne E., Banerdt, W. Bruce, Banfield, Don, Spiga, Aymeric, Newman, Claire, Forget, François, Lemmon, Mark, Lorenz, Ralph, Murdoch, Naomi, Viudez-Moreiras, Daniel, Pla-Garcia, Jorge, Garcia, Raphael F., Logonne, Philippe, Karatekin, Ozgur, Perrin, Clement, Martire, Leo, Teanby, Nicholas, Van Hove, Bart, Maki, Justin N., Kenda, Balthasar, Mueller, Nils T., Rodriguez, Sebastian, Kawamura, Taichi, McClean, John B., Stott, Alexander E., Charalambous, Constantinos, Millour, Ehouran, Johnson, Catherine L., Mittelholz, Anna, Maattanen, Anni, Lewis, Stephen, Clinton, John, Stahler, Simon C., Ceylan, Savas, Giardini, Domenico, Warren, Tristram, Pike, William T., Daubar, Ingrid, Golombek, Matthew, Rolland, Lucie, Widmer-Schnidrig, Rudolf, Mimoun, David, Beucler, Eric, Jacob, Alice, Lucas, Antoine, Baker, Mariah, Ansan, Veronique, Hurst, Kenneth, Mora-Sotomayor, Luis, Navarro, Sara, Torres, Josefina, Lepinette, Alain, Molina, Antonio, Marin-Jimenez, Mercedes, Gomez-Elvira, Javier, Peinado, Veronica, Rodriguez-Manfredi, Jose-Antonio, Carcich, Brian T., Sackett, Stephen, Russell, Christopher T., Spohn, Tilman, Smrekar, Suzanne E., and Banerdt, W. Bruce

Abstract

The atmosphere of Mars is thin, although rich in dust aerosols, and covers a dry surface. As such, Mars provides an opportunity to expand our knowledge of atmospheres beyond that attainable from the atmosphere of the Earth. The InSight (Interior Exploration using Seismic Investigations, Geodesy and Heat Transport) lander is measuring Mars’s atmosphere with unprecedented continu- ity, accuracy and sampling frequency. Here we show that InSight unveils new atmospheric phenomena at Mars, especially in the higher-frequency range, and extends our understanding of Mars’s meteorology at all scales. InSight is uniquely sensitive to large- scale and regional weather and obtained detailed in situ coverage of a regional dust storm on Mars. Images have enabled high- altitude wind speeds to be measured and revealed airglow—faint emissions produced by photochemical reactions—in the middle atmosphere. InSight observations show a paradox of aeolian science on Mars: despite having the largest recorded Martian vortex activity and dust-devil tracks close to the lander, no visible dust devils have been seen. Meteorological measurements have pro- duced a catalogue of atmospheric gravity waves, which included bores (soliton-like waves). From these measurements, we have discovered Martian infrasound and unexpected similarities between atmospheric turbulence on Earth and Mars. We suggest that the observations of Mars’s atmosphere by InSight will be key for prediction capabilities and future exploration.

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