Changes to water ice clouds in the martian north pole during high atmospheric dust levels

Shastri, V.; Holmes, J. A.; Patel, M. R. and Lewis, S. R. (2025). Changes to water ice clouds in the martian north pole during high atmospheric dust levels. In: 18th UKPF Early Career Meeting (ECM), 13 Jan 2025, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK.

URL: https://www.ukpf.org.uk/ukpf-early-career-meeting....

Abstract

Introduction: Water ice clouds on Mars influence the atmospheric dynamics and climate of Mars which in turn is important to understand the water cycle [1]. The northern polar region is a key area of focus to understand the water cycle as most of the atmospheric water on Mars originates from the north pole ice cap [2]. The main cloud formation in the northern polar region are the polar hood clouds which are formed during the northern polar winter. These clouds form when the temperature in the polar region drops sufficiently for the water vapour to condense on to dust nuclei. The levels of atmospheric dust on Mars vary seasonally and interannually based on how much surface dust is injected into the atmosphere. Mars has large dust events such as regional dust storms [3] and global dust storms (GDS) where high amounts of dust enter the atmosphere. One such GDS occurred during 2018 where water vapour was found breaking into the northern polar vortex [4]. This project will therefore focus on how changes to the water vapour levels in the north pole during a GDS affect polar hood water ice cloud formation.

Methods: This project will use both simulations of the water cycle by the Mars (UK-spectral) Planetary Climate Model (PCM) and observational data from several spacecraft. I will use data assimilation of water vapour profiles from the Nadir and Occultation for MArs Discovery (NOMAD) and Atmospheric Chemistry Suite (ACS) instruments on board the ExoMars Trace Gas Orbiter (TGO). Temperature profiles from the Mars Climate Sounder (MCS) aboard the Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter (MRO) will also be assimilated to constrain the water cycle simulations as much as possible.

Project Goals: This project will investigate polar hood clouds on the martian north pole and how large-scale dust events impact their formation and abundance. Using computer models and observations, the water ice and dust relationship will be explored interannually and diurnally between two martian years with low and high atmospheric dust content. Studying the changes in the water ice condensation in the northern polar region from dust events will benefit research regarding deposition of water ice in the northern polar ice cap. This will improve our understanding of water storage on Mars.

References: [1] Madeleine, J.-B. et al. (2012), Geophys. Res. Lett., 39, L23202. [2] Khayat, A.S.J. et al. (2019), Icarus, 321, 722-735. [3] Kass, D. et al. (2016), GRL, 43 (12), 6111-6118. [4] Holmes, J.A. et al. (2022) JGR (Planets), 127(10), e2022JE007203.

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