HR: 09:15h
AN: P21E-06    [Abstracts]
TI: Large-Scale Weather Systems in Mars' Southern Hemisphere: Effects of the Great Impact Basins
AU: * Hollingsworth, J L
EM: jeffh@humbabe.arc.nasa.gov
AF: NASA Ames Research Center, Planetary Systems Branch/SJSUF, MS: 245-3, Moffett Field, CA 94035 United States
AB: Using the NASA Ames Mars general circulation model, the dynamics of large-scale extratropical synoptic-period disturbances within the southern hemisphere during late autumn through mid-spring are investigated. This updated global circulation model imposes realistic dust loading similar to that measured by the Mars Global Surveyor thermal emission spectrometer (MGS/TES) during mapping years 1 and 2. Comparisons between model simulations and analyses of MGS/TES thermal variance fields are presented, and influences of the zonally asymmetric topography on the large-scale weather disturbances are explored. Contrasts between simulations that impose full MGS/MOLA topography with simulations that adapt synthetic topographies emulating essential features of the southern extratropics, indicate that Mars' transient barotropic/baroclinic eddies are strongly altered by the great impact basins (i.e., Argyre and Hellas). Further, via orographic modulation arising from the Tharsis highlands and the Argyre impact basin, a southern storm zone (i.e., storm track) occurs that is keyed mostly to the western hemisphere. Localized transient wave activity flux diagnostics have been constructed that illuminate fundamental differences amongst the simulations and are discussed.
DE: 3337 Global climate models (1626, 4928)
DE: 3346 Planetary meteorology (5445, 5739)
DE: 3367 Theoretical modeling
DE: 5445 Meteorology (3346)
SC: Planetary Sciences [P]
MN: Fall Meeting 2005