Abstract
A mathematical model for the Martian polar cap breeze was constructed in part from work previously done by others on the terrestrial sea breeze. With this model a numerical simulation corresponding to the Southern Hemisphere winter season was made. The results obtained with the proposed model show that the Martian polar cap breeze is a well defined system with some similarities to the terrestrial sea breeze. At the time of maximum intensity, the largest values of vertical velocities are about 10 cm/s and occur at heights between 850–1250 m. The largest values of horizontal velocities are about 15 m/s. A “polar cap breeze front” is clearly discernible in the results. The rate of advance of this front is at an average of about 10 km/h.
Article PDF
Similar content being viewed by others
Avoid common mistakes on your manuscript.
References
Blumsack, S. L., Gierasch, P. J., and Wessel, W. R.: 1973, ‘An Analytical and Numerical Study of the Martian Planetary Boundary Layer Over Slopes’,J. Atmos. Sci. 30, 66–82.
Burk, S. D.: 1976, ‘Diurnal Winds Near the Martian Polar Caps’,J. Atmos. Sci. 33, 923–939.
Estoque, M. A.: 1961, ‘A Theoretical Investigation of the Sea Breeze’,Quart. J. Roy. Meteorol. Soc. 87, 136–146.
Estoque, M. A.: 1962, ‘The Sea Breeze as a Function of the Prevailing Synoptic Situation’,J. Atmos. Sci. 19, 244–250.
Fernández, W.: 1994, ‘Description of the Martian Polar Cap Breeze’,Earth, Moon, and Planets 70, 183–191.
Gierasch, P. J. and Goody, R. M.: 1968, ‘A Study of the Thermal and Dynamical Structure of the Martian Lower Atmosphere’,Planetary Space Sci. 16, 615–646.
Golitsyn, G. S.: 1969, ‘Estimates of Boundary Layer Parameters in the Atmospheres of Terrestrial Planets’,Atmos. Oceanic Phys. 5, 442–445.
Goody, R. M. and Belton, M. J. S.: 1967, ‘Radiative Relaxation Time for Mars: A Discussion of Martian Atmospheric Dynamics’,Planetary Space Sci. 15, 247–256.
Haberle, R. M., Leovy, C. B., and Pollack, J. B.: 1979, ‘A Numerical Model of the Martian Polar Cap Winds’,Icarus 39, 151–153.
Hanel, R. A., Conrath, B. J., Hovis, W. A., Kunde, V. G., Lowman, P. D., Pearl, J. C., Prabhakara, C., and Schlachman, B.: 1972, ‘Infrared Spectroscopy Experiment of the Mariner 9 Mission: Preliminary Results’,Science 175(4019), 305–308.
Leovy, C., Zurek, R. W., and Pollack, J. B.: 1973, ‘Mechanisms for Mars Dust Storms’,J. Atmos. Sci. 30, 749–762.
Martin, L. J. and Zurek, R. W.: 1993, ‘An Analysis of the History of Dust Activity on Mars’,J. Geophys. Res. 98(E2), 3221–3246.
Moriyama, S.: 1972, ‘Numerical Experiment of Radiative-Convective Equilibrium of the Martian Atmosphere’,J. Meteorol. Soc. Japan 50, 181–193.
Neumann, J. and Mahrer, Y.: 1971, ‘A Theoretical Study of the Land and Sea Breeze Circulation’,J. Atmos. Sci. 28, 532–542.
Neumann, J. and Mahrer, Y.: 1973, ‘Evolution of a Sea Breeze Front: A Numerical Study’, Climatological Research, The Hermann Flohn 60th Birthday Volume, Meteorological Institute, The University of Bonn.
Pallmann, A. J. and Dannevik, W. P.: 1972, ‘Transient Variation of Martian Ground-Atmosphere Thermal Boundary Layer Structure’,Conference on Atmospheric Radiation, August 7–9, Fort Collins, Colorado, published by AMS, Boston, Mass.
Pallmann, A. J. and Frisella, S. P.: 1972, ‘Numerical Simulation of Radiative-Conductive Heat Transfer in the Martian Atmosphere-Polar Cap Utilizing Mariner 9 IRIS Data’,Conference on Atmospheric Radiation, August 7–9, Fort Collins, Colorado, published by AMS, Boston, Mass.
Pallmann, A. J., Dannevik, W. P., and Frisella, S. P.: 1973, ‘Martian Thermal Boundary Layers: Subhourly Variations Induced by Radiative-Conductive Heat Transfer within the Dust-Laden Atmosphere-Ground System’, NASA contractor report, Washington, D.C.
Phillips, N. A.: 1957, ‘A Coordinaty System having Some Special Advantages or Numerical Forecasting’,J. Meteor. 14, 184–185.
Rasool, S. I., Hogan, J. S., and Stewart, R. W.: 1970, ‘Temperature Distribution in the Lower Atmosphere of Mars from Mariner 6 and 7 Radio Occultation Data’,J. Atmos. Sci. 27, 841–843.
Zurek, R. W. and Martin, L. J.: 1993, ‘Interannual Variability of Planet-Encircling Dust Storms on Mars’,J. Geophys. Res. 98(E2), 3247–3259.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Fernández, W. A numerical simulation of the Martian polar cap breeze. Earth Moon Planet 70, 193–205 (1995). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00619464
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00619464