| Name: | Anirban Mandal |
| Affiliation: | National Institute of Technology, Rourkela |
| Conference ID: | ASI2025_15 |
| Title: | Analysing the growth and evolution of two regional dust storms using MRO-MCS, Curiosity, and Perseverance observations |
| Authors: | Anirban Mandal 1, Jagabandhu Panda 1 |
| Authors Affiliation: | 1 Department of Earth and Atmospheric Sciences, National Institute of Technology Rourkela, Odisha-769008, India |
| Mode of Presentation: | Oral |
| Abstract Category: | Sun, Solar System, Exoplanets, and Astrobiology |
| Abstract: | Dust storms on Mars have a complex relation to the dynamics and thermodynamics of the atmosphere. Although the formation of storms is known, simultaneous orbital and ground-based observations are required for a comprehensive understanding. This study analyses the growth and development of two regional dust storms using orbital measurements and ground based observations. The said dust storms were observed in MY 36 around LS=153°-156° (RDS-A) and 310°-330° (RDS-B). Observations from the Rover Environmental Monitoring Station (REMS) onboard the Curiosity rover, the Mars Environmental Dynamics Analyzer (MEDA) onboard the Perseverance rover, and the Mars Climate Sounder (MCS) instrument from NASA’s Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter (MRO) have been used in this study. Both storms showed an eastward expansion, while RDS-B additionally exhibited a southward expansion. The MCS observation-based vertical variation of stability indicates convection at the lower altitudes (0-5 km) in the latitude range 40°S-90°N for RDS-A. For RDS-B, strong convection is observed in the latitude range 90°S-40°N at altitudes 0-10 km. The dust mixing ratio from MCS observations indicates higher availability of dust at 30-55 km in the latitude range 40°S-40°N for RDS-A and at 20-60 km in the latitude range 90°S-45°N for RDS-B. The temporal variability of pressure from the MEDA and REMS observations shows a major variation in its amplitude for both storms, indicating baroclinic wave activity. The decrease in MEDA and REMS temperature for both storms indicates dust at higher altitudes, and the decrease in volume mixing ratio suggests prominent cooling during night time. Thus, the present study sheds light on the complex dust-lifting mechanisms and helps improve the understanding of the Martian atmosphere and dust cycle. |
