Mars Climate Sounder Observation of Mars' 2018 Global Dust Storm. Issue 23 (28th November 2020)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Kass, D. M.; Schofield, J. T.; Kleinböhl, A.; McCleese, D. J.; Heavens, N. G.; Shirley, J. H.; Steele, L. J.
• Is Part Of: Geophysical research letters. Volume 47:Issue 23(2020)
• Page Start: n/a
• Page End: n/a
• Publication Date: 2020-11-28
• Subjects: Mars atmosphere -- 2018 global dust storm -- Mars Climate Sounder; Geophysics -- Periodicals; Planets -- Periodicals; Lunar geology -- Periodicals; 550
• DOI: 10.1029/2019GL083931
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0094-8276

Abstract

Abstract: The largest of dust storms on Mars are global dust events (GDEs) that affect essentially every aspect of the Martian atmosphere but do not occur in every Mars year. The Mars Climate Sounder globally observed the most recent GDE in 2018 throughout its lifecycle. The event started shortly after the southern spring equinox, with the first Mars Climate Sounder signature detected on 2 June 2018 (Ls = 186.2°). It grew into a mature global event by the end of June (Ls ~ 198°), with drastic changes to the atmospheric temperature, dust, and water ice profiles. It decayed over several months, reaching background conditions around southern summer solstice in October 2018. The 2018 GDE was very similar to the 2001 event, including the seasonal development and temperatures. GDEs appear to be distinct from even the largest regional dust storms. GDEs have 50‐Pa zonal tropical temperatures >220 K while no regional dust storm exceeds 205 K. Plain Language Summary: Mars has global dust storms where dust fills the atmosphere and blankets the entire planet. These are rare, but one occurred in 2018. It started in early June and lasted through mid‐October. The Mars Climate Sounder, an instrument in orbit around Mars, measured the global changes in the atmospheric temperature as well as the amount of dust in the atmosphere during the storm. These observations significantly improved our understanding of global dust storms on Mars. The one in 2018 was very similar to a global storm that occurred in 2001. Based on studying these storms, it appears that global dust storms are fundamentally different from the smaller, regional storms. Global dust storms grow much faster than their smaller cousins, and they have a larger impact on the atmosphere. Key Points: Mars Climate Sounder observed the impacts of a Martian global dust storm in 2018 on the atmospheric temperature, dust, and water ice profiles The 2018 global dust storm was remarkably similar to the 2001 storm in seasonal timing, peak temperature, opacity and in global evolution Regional and global dust storms can be clearly distinguished on the basis of the maximum zonal mean peak 50 Pa daytime temperatures