Planetary atmosphere observation analysis

Abstract:

Isotopic ratios in water vapour carry important information about the water reservoir on Mars. Localised variations in these ratios can inform us about the water cycle and surface-atmosphere exchanges. On the other hand, the global isotopic composition of the atmosphere carries the imprints of the long-term fractionation, providing crucial information about the early water reservoir and its evolution throughout history. Here, we report the analysis of measurements of the D/H and 18O/16O isotopic ratios in water vapour in different seasons (𝐿S = 15◦ , 127◦ , 272◦ , 305◦ ) made with SOFIA/EXES. These measurements, free of telluric absorption, provide a unique tool for constraining the global isotopic composition of Martian water vapour. We find the maximum planetary D/H ratio in our observations during the northern summer (D/H = 5.2 ± 0.2 with respect to the Vienna Standard Mean Ocean Water, VSMOW) and to exhibit relatively small variations throughout the year (D/H = 5.0 ± 0.2 and 4.3 ± 0.4 VSMOW during the northern winter and spring, respectively), which are to first order consistent though noticeably larger than the expectations from condensation-induced fractionation. Our measurements reveal the annually-averaged isotopic composition of water vapour to be consistent with D/H = 5.0 ± 0.2 and 18O/16O = 1.09 ± 0.08 VSMOW. In addition, based on a comparison between the SOFIA/EXES measurements and the predictions from a Global Climate Model, we estimate the D/H in the northern polar ice cap to be ∼5% larger than that in the atmospheric reservoir (D/Hice = 5.3 ± 0.3 VSMOW).

Abstract:

Isotopic ratios in water vapour carry important information about the water reservoir on Mars. Localized variations in these ratios can inform us about the water cycle and surface–atmosphere exchanges. On the other hand, the global isotopic composition of the atmosphere carries the imprints of the long-term fractionation, providing crucial information about the early water reservoir and its evolution throughout history. Here, we report the analysis of measurements of the D/H and 18O/16O isotopic ratios in water vapour in different seasons (LS = 15◦, 127◦, 272◦, and 305◦) made with the Echelon-Cross-Echelle Spectrograph (EXES) aboard the Stratospheric Observatory for Infrared Astronomy (SOFIA). These measurements, free of telluric absorption, provide a unique tool for constraining the global isotopic composition of Martian water vapour. We find the maximum planetary D/H ratio in our observations during the northern summer (D/H = 5.2 ± 0.2 with respect to the Vienna Standard Mean Ocean Water, VSMOW) and to exhibit relatively small variations throughout the year (D/H = 5.0 ± 0.2 and 4.3 ± 0.4 VSMOW during the northern winter and spring, respectively), which are to first order consistent though noticeably larger than the expectations from condensation-induced fractionation. Our measurements reveal the annually averaged isotopic composition of water vapour to be consistent with D/H = 5.0 ± 0.2 and 18O/16O = 1.09 ± 0.08 VSMOW. In addition, based on a comparison between the SOFIA/EXES measurements and the predictions from a Global Climate Model, we estimate the D/H in the northern polar ice cap to be ∼5 per cent larger than that in the atmospheric reservoir (D/Hice = 5.3 ± 0.3 VSMOW).

Abstract:

The distribution of Mars ozone (O3) is well established; however, our knowledge on the dayside diurnal variation of O3 is limited. We present measurements of Mars O3 column abundances, spanning Mars Year (MY) 34 to the end of MY 36, by the Ultraviolet and VIsible Spectrometer (UVIS), part of the Nadir and Occultation for MArs Discovery (NOMAD) instrument, aboard the ExoMars Trace Gas Orbiter. UVIS provides the capability to measure dayside diurnal variations of O3 and for the first time, a characterization of the dayside diurnal variations of O3 is attempted. The observed O3 climatology for Mars Years (MY) 34–36 follows the established seasonal trends observed through previous O3 measurements. At aphelion, the equatorial O3 distribution is observed to be strongly correlated with the water ice distribution. We show that the early dust storm in MY 35 resulted in a near-global reduction in O3 during northern spring and the O3 abundances remained 14% lower in northern summer compared to MY36. Strong latitudinal and longitudinal variation was observed in the diurnal behavior of O3 around the northern summer solstice. In areas with a weak O3 upper layer, O3 column abundance peaks in the mid-morning, driven by changes in the near-surface O3 layer. In regions with greater O3 column abundances, O3 is observed to gradually increase throughout the day. This is consistent with the expected diurnal trend of O3 above the hygropause and suggests that in these areas an upper O3 layer persists throughout the Martian day.