A general circulation model simulation of the Martian polar warming

Abstract

This paper reports on a successful general circulation model simulation of a rapid warming phenomenon observed in the Martian winter polar atmosphere during global dust storm conditions. The model includes a self‐consistent simulation of the dust distribution which is forced with a prescribed surface source. The warming is shown to be largely a response to the development of a pole‐to‐pole solstitial Hadley circulation resulting from the greatly increased dust loading. A crucial aspect of the simulation is a sufficiently deep computational domain that allows for the full development of this circulation. These simulations indicate that the thermal tides play a contributing role by providing zonal momentum flux divergence at the winter pole and by the advection of aerosol.