The vertical distribution of water vapor in the atmosphere of Mars

Abstract

Calculations are performed of the vertical distribution of water vapor and condensate in an adiabatic atmosphere on Mars taking into account turbulent diffusion and terminal velocity. The distributions are found to be substantially different when terminal velocity is included. The eddy-diffusion coefficient in the troposphere cannot be much greater than 10 5 cm 2sec −1 if optical depths are to be kept low enough to be consistent with observations. Processes in the boundary layer are also discussed. We conclude that virtually all the water vapor is to be found in the lowest 6–10 km and that the lowest 2km should have a greate r concentration than the rest of that layer. Some observational tests of these ideas and conclusion can be performed by the Viking missions to Mars.