Martian Dust Storms and Gravity Waves: Disentangling Water Transport to the Upper Atmosphere

TL;DR

This study uses Martian general circulation model simulations to analyze how gravity waves and dust storms influence water transport to Mars's upper atmosphere, revealing complex interactions affecting water distribution.

Contribution

It provides new insights into the role of gravity waves and dust storms in Martian water transport mechanisms, highlighting their impact on upper atmospheric water levels.

Findings

Gravity waves modulate circulation and temperature during dust storms.

Water is mainly transported by meridional circulation, not molecular diffusion.

Gravity waves alter water amounts in the thermosphere by 10-25%.

Abstract

Simulations with the Max Planck Institute Martian general circulation model for Martian years 28 and 34 reveal details of the water "pump" mechanism and the role of gravity wave (GW) forcing. Water is advected to the upper atmosphere mainly by upward branches of the meridional circulation: in low latitudes during equinoxes and over the south pole during solstices. Molecular diffusion plays little role in water transport in the middle atmosphere and across the mesopause. GWs modulate the circulation and temperature during global dust storms, thus changing the timing and intensity of the transport. At equinoxes, they facilitate water accumulation in the polar warming regions in the middle atmosphere followed by stronger upwelling over the equator. As equinoctial storms decay, GWs tend to accelerate the reduction of water in the thermosphere. GWs delay the onset of the transport during solstitial storms and change the globally averaged amount of water in the upper atmosphere by 10-25%.