Mariner 9 Television Limb Observations of Dust and Ice Hazes on Mars

Abstract

Over 3000 Mariner 9 television reflectance profiles crossing the limb of Mars were analyzed statistically during the period from the decaying phase of a global dust storm (southern summer) until southern winter solstice. Most of the profiles were obtained during the first 100 days of the mission. The “top” of the dust, as defined by the inflection point in the reflectance profiles, decreased with time during the decay of the dust storm, but more rapidly in the higher latitudes of both hemispheres than in the tropics. The inflection point due to dust haze remained above 20 km in the tropics throughout the period. These variations support the hypothesis that the diurnal tide is the primary agent of vertical dust transport. Scale heights of the upper portion of the dust cloud were highest in the tropics early in the mission, decaying with time and/or depth in the atmosphere. If interpreted in terms of vertical eddy diffusion, the scale heights suggest diffusion coefficients of order 103 m2 s−1 in the 40–60 km height range. Distribution, color and polarization of higher limb hazes were also analyzed. These are interpreted as condensate layers associated with convective overshoot from the dusty lower atmosphere. A long internal gravity wave revealed by one of these layers is discussed.