WP4 - Martian trace gases, dust and clouds

Objectives

  • Improve of the retrieval code
  • Selection of the best space data sets
  • Trace gases retrievals
  • Dust & clouds retrievals

Lead / Participants

BIRA-IASB

 

Science

Different improvements to the existing investigation of space data will be considered. Data obtained by ESA space missions will be considered in priority (Mars Exprees and ExoMars).

A first improvement of the analysis of the data will be based on the laboratory measurement of the scattering properties of the new Martian dust analogue and the associated improved scattering model. Using better radiative properties of the dust will have a large impact on the retrieval of dust itself and also of trace gases.

A second improvement of the retrieval of trace gases will then be done by improving the GCM and its treatment of the dust and clouds (see previous section) and transferring this into the retrieval routine. This means that we will link retrieval and GCM together beyond the simple use of GCM output fields as a priori for the retrievals.

A third improvement will come from the combined use of all three channels of NOMAD/ExoMars, covering the ultraviolet to the infrared spectral region, to improve the retrieval of the dust characteristics. Considering simultaneous observations of two channels of NOMAD (either UVIS & SO during solar occultations, or UVIS & LNO during nadir observations) will allow us to characterize better the dust interaction with the radiation