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Clouds above the Martin Limb: Viking observationsWhenever Viking Orbiter images included the limb of Mars, they recorded one or more layers of clouds above the limb. The height above the limb and the brightness (reflectivity) of these clouds were determined in a selected group of these images. Normalized individual brightness profiles of three separate traverses across the limb of each image are shown. The most notable finding is that some of these clouds can be very high. Many reach heights of over 60 km, and several are over 70 km above the limb. Statistically, the reflectivity of the clouds increases with phase angle. Reflectivity and height both appear to vary with season, but the selected images spanned only one Martian year, so the role of seasons cannot be isolated. Limb clouds in red-filter images tend to be brighter than violet-filter images, but both season and phase appear to be more dominant factors. Due to the limited sample available, the possible influences of latitude and longitude are less clear. The layering of these clouds ranges from a single layer to five or more layers. Reflectivity gradients range from smooth and gentle to steep and irregular.
Document ID
19850003614
Acquisition Source
Legacy CDMS
Document Type
Preprint (Draft being sent to journal)
Authors
Martin, L. J. (Lowell Observatory Flagstaff, AZ, United States)
Baum, W. A. (Lowell Observatory Flagstaff, AZ, United States)
Wasserman, L. H. (Lowell Observatory Flagstaff, AZ, United States)
Kreidl, T. J. (Lowell Observatory Flagstaff, AZ, United States)
Date Acquired
September 5, 2013
Publication Date
January 1, 1984
Subject Category
Astronomy
Report/Patent Number
NAS 1.26:174027
NASA-CR-174027
Accession Number
85N11922
Funding Number(s)
CONTRACT_GRANT: NSG-7530
Distribution Limits
Public
Copyright
Work of the US Gov. Public Use Permitted.

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