An instrument to measure turbulent eddy fluxes in the atmosphere of Mars

Abstract

Turbulent eddies in the planetary boundary layer of the terrestrial planet atmospheres are the primary mechanism by which energy, momentum, gasses, and aerosols are exchanged between the surface and the atmosphere [1]. The importance of eddies has long been recognized by the Earth atmospheric science community, and turbulent theory for Earth has a long history with a massive amount of literature backed by over half a century of detailed field campaigns. Every climate and weather forecasting model in existence relies extensively on turbulent eddy theory supported through observational validation. The importance of eddies in atmospheric dynamics, chemistry, and climate science cannot be overstated.

Citation

Rafkin, S.; Banfield, D.; Dissly, R.; Silver, J.; Stanton, A.; Wilkinson, E.; Massman, W.; Ham, J. 2012. An instrument to measure turbulent eddy fluxes in the atmosphere of Mars. In: International Workshop on Instrumentation for Planetary Missions (IPM-2012). Greenbelt, MD: NASA Goddard Space Flight Center. Online: http://ssed.gsfc.nasa.gov/IPM/PDF/Revised_Orals/1119.pdf