Diurnal Temperature Variations and Thermal Tides in the Martian Atmosphere Observed by EMIRS during EMM Primary Mission

Abstract

We present results of diurnal temperature variations and thermal tides in the Martian atmosphere using observations obtained by the Emirates Mars InfraRed Spectrometer (EMIRS) onboard the Emirates Mars Mission (EMM) Hope probe during its primary mission. The novel orbit design of the spacecraft allows a full geography and local time to be covered every 10 Martian days, approximately ~5° of solar longitude (LS). Diurnal temperature variations are derived for the first time on a planetary scale without any significant gaps in local time or interference from seasonal changes. Contributions of thermal tides are then analyzed. The dataset of the EMM primary mission covers one Martian Year (MY) starting from MY 36 LS=49°. Seasonal changes of the diurnal temperature variations and thermal tides are investigated. The results show good agreements with predictions provided by the Mars Planetary Climate Model (PCM), but with noticeable differences in the phases and wavelengths of the thermal tides. This work provides valuable information on understanding the diurnal climate of Mars, and inspires future advances of Mars GCMs.