Observations of Ubiquitous Nighttime Temperature Inversions in Mars' Tropics After Large‐Scale Dust Storms

Abstract

AbstractWe report the ubiquitous occurrence of nighttime temperature inversions in the tropical Martian atmosphere during the dusty season, as observed by the Mars Climate Sounder. The inversions occur after large‐scale regional dust storms, with their strengths largely correlated to the strengths of the dust storms. Inversions strengthen between 2 and 4 a.m., with the bases of the inversions getting cooler, and the tops of the inversions getting warmer. The inversions are strongest and most frequent around Tharsis and Terra Sabaea, but are also observed over the flat plains early in the dust storm decay period. These inversions likely result from the effects of both a strengthened migrating diurnal tide (due to the increased dustiness of the atmosphere), along with nonmigrating tides forced by zonal variations in aerosol abundance and topography. These results highlight an important interplay between the dust distribution, water ice clouds and thermal tides.