Initial analysis of air temperature and related data from the Phoenix MET station and their use in estimating turbulent heat fluxes

Abstract

Thermocouples at three levels on a 1 m mast on the deck of the Phoenix Lander provided temperature data throughout the 151 sol Phoenix mission. Air temperatures showed a large diurnal cycle which showed little sol to sol variation, especially over the first 90 sols of the mission. Daytime temperatures at the top (2 m) level typically rose to about 243 K (−30°C) in early afternoon and had large (10°) turbulent fluctuations. These are analyzed and used to estimate heat fluxes. Late afternoon conditions were relatively calm with minimal temperature fluctuations but CFD computations show that heating from the lander deck and instruments have influenced temperatures measured at the lowest level (0.25 m above the deck) on the mast.