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Observations of the 10 micrometer natural laser emission from the mesospheres of Mars and VenusObservations of the total flux and center to limb dependence of the nonthermal emission occurring in the cores of the 9.4 and 10.4 micrometers CO2 bands on Mars are compared to a theoretical model based on this mechanism. The model successfully reproduces the observed center to limb dependence of this emission, to within the limits imposed by the spatial resolution of the observations of Mars and Venus. The observed flux from Mars agrees closely with the prediction of the model; the flux observed from Venus is 74% of the flux predicted by the model. This emission is used to obtain the kinetic temperatures of the Martian and Venusian mesospheres. For Mars near 70 km altitude, a rotational temperature analysis using five lines gives T = 135 + or - 20 K. The frequency width of the emission is also analyzed to derive a temperature of 126 + or - 6 K. In the case of the Venusian mesosphere near 109 km, the frequency width of the emission gives T = 204 + or - 10 K.
Document ID
19830020886
Acquisition Source
Legacy CDMS
Document Type
Technical Memorandum (TM)
Authors
Deming, D. (NASA Goddard Space Flight Center Greenbelt, MD, United States)
Espenak, F. (NASA Goddard Space Flight Center Greenbelt, MD, United States)
Jennings, D. (NASA Goddard Space Flight Center Greenbelt, MD, United States)
Kostiuk, T. (NASA Goddard Space Flight Center Greenbelt, MD, United States)
Mumma, M. J. (NASA Goddard Space Flight Center Greenbelt, MD, United States)
Date Acquired
September 4, 2013
Publication Date
June 1, 1983
Subject Category
Lunar And Planetary Exploration
Report/Patent Number
NASA-TM-85044
NAS 1.15:85044
Accession Number
83N29157
Distribution Limits
Public
Copyright
Work of the US Gov. Public Use Permitted.

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