Mapping Martian Atmospheric Pressure with Ground-Based Near Infrared Spectroscopy
Sarah A. Chamberlain A C , Jeremy A. Bailey A and David Crisp BA Australian Centre for Astrobiology, Macquarie University, NSW 2109, Australia
B Jet Propulsion Laboratory/Caltech, 4800 Oak Grove Dr, Pasadena, CA 91125, USA
C Corresponding author. E-mail: schamber@els.mq.edu.au
Publications of the Astronomical Society of Australia 23(3) 119-124 https://doi.org/10.1071/AS05028
Submitted: 24 August 2005 Accepted: 2 August 2006 Published: 24 November 2006
Abstract
We present images of Mars obtained in the 2.0 μm CO2 band with the United Kingdom Infrared Telescope (UKIRT). The images reveal topographic features of the Martian surface that are usually invisible in direct albedo images at visible or IR wavelengths, but agree remarkably well with the topography of the planet as mapped by the MOLA instrument on Mars Global Surveyor. The CO2 band depth is a measure of the absorbing column of CO2 and hence determined primarily by the surface atmospheric pressure. The surface pressure variations are detected with a sensitivity of 4–5 Pa. We compare our data with radiative transfer models and find that the measured CO2 variation with pressure is consistent with the models. We discuss the possibility that similar observations might be used to observe atmospheric pressure changes due to Martian weather systems.
Keywords: planets and satellites: individual (Mars)
Acknowledgements
We thank the staff of the Joint Astronomy Centre, in particular Paul Hirst and Thor Wold, our support scientist and telescope operator, during our UKIRT observations of Mars. We also thank the NASA Astrobiology Institute’s Virtual Planetary Laboratory Lead Team (PI Vikki Meadows), who provided financial support for the observing run. The NAI’s Virtual Planetary Laboratory is supported by the National Aeronautics and Space Administration through the NASA Astrobiology Institute under Cooperative Agreement No. CAN-00-OSS-01. The Australian Centre for Astrobiology is supported by the Macquarie University Biotechnology Research Institute.
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