Mars general circulation model: Difference between revisions
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The [[Atmosphere of Mars#Methane|Martian atmosphere]] contains 10 nmol/[[mole (unit)|mol]] methane.<ref name="methane">{{Cite web |title=Mars Express confirms methane in the Martian atmosphere |author=[[ESA]] Press release |publisher=[[ESA]] |url=http://www.esa.int/SPECIALS/Mars_Express/SEMZ0B57ESD_0.html |accessdate=March 17, 2006 |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20060224102528/http://www.esa.int/SPECIALS/Mars_Express/SEMZ0B57ESD_0.html |archivedate=24 February 2006 <!--DASHBot--> |deadurl=no}}</ref> In January 2009, NASA scientists announced that they had discovered that the planet often vents methane into the atmosphere in specific areas, leading some to speculate this may be a sign of biological activity going on below the surface.<ref>[http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/01/15/AR2009011502222.html Mars Vents Methane in What Could Be Sign of Life], Washington Post, January 16, 2009</ref> |
The [[Atmosphere of Mars#Methane|Martian atmosphere]] contains 10 nmol/[[mole (unit)|mol]] methane.<ref name="methane">{{Cite web |title=Mars Express confirms methane in the Martian atmosphere |author=[[ESA]] Press release |publisher=[[ESA]] |url=http://www.esa.int/SPECIALS/Mars_Express/SEMZ0B57ESD_0.html |accessdate=March 17, 2006 |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20060224102528/http://www.esa.int/SPECIALS/Mars_Express/SEMZ0B57ESD_0.html |archivedate=24 February 2006 <!--DASHBot--> |deadurl=no}}</ref> In January 2009, NASA scientists announced that they had discovered that the planet often vents methane into the atmosphere in specific areas, leading some to speculate this may be a sign of biological activity going on below the surface.<ref>[http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/01/15/AR2009011502222.html Mars Vents Methane in What Could Be Sign of Life], Washington Post, January 16, 2009</ref> |
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[[File:PIA19088-MarsCuriosityRover-MethaneSource-20141216.png|thumb|left|300px|[[Atmosphere of Mars#Methane|Methane]] (CH<sub>4</sub>) on Mars - potential sources and sinks.]] |
[[File:PIA19088-MarsCuriosityRover-MethaneSource-20141216.png|thumb|left|300px|[[Atmosphere of Mars#Methane|Methane]] (CH<sub>4</sub>) on Mars - potential sources and sinks.]] |
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Analysis of observations made by a [[Weather Research and Forecasting model]] for Mars (MarsWRF) and related Mars general circulation model (MGCM) suggests that it is potentially possible to isolate [[Atmosphere of Mars#Methane|methane plume source locations]] to within tens of kilometers, which is within the roving capabilities of [[Exploration of Mars|future Mars rovers]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://solarsystem.nasa.gov/scitech/display.cfm?ST_ID=2436 |title=Atmospheric Modeling of Martian Methane Plumes: The Debate Continues |date=April 3, 2012 |publisher=NASA Solar System Exploration}}</ref> The [[Curiosity rover]], which landed on Mars in August 2012, is able to make measurements that distinguish between different isotopologues of methane;<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.astrobio.net/news/modules.php?op=modload&name=News&file=article&sid=2765&mode=thread&order=0&thold=0 |title=Making Sense of Mars Methane |accessdate=October 8, 2008 |last=Tenenbaum |first=David |date=June 9, 2008 |work=Astrobiology Magazine |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20080923195833/http://astrobio.net/news/modules.php?op=modload&name=News&file=article&sid=2765&mode=thread&order=0&thold=0 |archivedate=23 September 2008 <!--DASHBot--> |deadurl=no}}</ref> but even if the mission is to determine that microscopic Martian life is the source of the methane, the life forms likely reside far below the surface, outside of the rover's reach.<ref>{{Cite news |first=Bill |last=Steigerwald |authorlink= |title=Martian Methane Reveals the Red Planet is not a Dead Planet |date=January 15, 2009 |publisher=NASA |url=http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/mars/news/marsmethane.html |work=NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center |pages= |accessdate=January 24, 2009 |language= |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20090117141425/http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/mars/news/marsmethane.html |archivedate=17 January 2009 <!--DASHBot--> |deadurl=no}}</ref> The first measurements with the [[Sample Analysis at Mars|Tunable Laser Spectrometer (TLS)]] indicated that there is less than 5 ppb of methane at the landing site at the point of the measurement.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.ustream.tv/nasajpl |title=Mars Curiosity Rover News Telecon -November 2, 2012}}</ref><ref name="Science-20121102">{{cite web |
Analysis of observations made by a [[Weather Research and Forecasting model]] for Mars (MarsWRF) and related Mars general circulation model (MGCM) suggests that it is potentially possible to isolate [[Atmosphere of Mars#Methane|methane plume source locations]] to within tens of kilometers, which is within the roving capabilities of [[Exploration of Mars|future Mars rovers]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://solarsystem.nasa.gov/scitech/display.cfm?ST_ID=2436 |title=Atmospheric Modeling of Martian Methane Plumes: The Debate Continues |date=April 3, 2012 |publisher=NASA Solar System Exploration}}</ref> The [[Curiosity rover]], which landed on Mars in August 2012, is able to make measurements that distinguish between different isotopologues of methane;<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.astrobio.net/news/modules.php?op=modload&name=News&file=article&sid=2765&mode=thread&order=0&thold=0 |title=Making Sense of Mars Methane |accessdate=October 8, 2008 |last=Tenenbaum |first=David |date=June 9, 2008 |work=Astrobiology Magazine |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20080923195833/http://astrobio.net/news/modules.php?op=modload&name=News&file=article&sid=2765&mode=thread&order=0&thold=0 |archivedate=23 September 2008 <!--DASHBot--> |deadurl=no}}</ref> but even if the mission is to determine that microscopic Martian life is the source of the methane, the life forms likely reside far below the surface, outside of the rover's reach.<ref>{{Cite news |first=Bill |last=Steigerwald |authorlink= |title=Martian Methane Reveals the Red Planet is not a Dead Planet |date=January 15, 2009 |publisher=NASA |url=http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/mars/news/marsmethane.html |work=NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center |pages= |accessdate=January 24, 2009 |language= |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20090117141425/http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/mars/news/marsmethane.html |archivedate=17 January 2009 <!--DASHBot--> |deadurl=no}}</ref> The first measurements with the [[Sample Analysis at Mars|Tunable Laser Spectrometer (TLS)]] indicated that there is less than 5 ppb of methane at the landing site at the point of the measurement.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.ustream.tv/nasajpl |title=Mars Curiosity Rover News Telecon -November 2, 2012}}</ref><ref name="Science-20121102">{{cite web|last=Kerr |first=Richard A. |title=Curiosity Finds Methane on Mars, or Not |url=http://news.sciencemag.org/sciencenow/2012/11/curiosity-finds-methane-on-mars-.html |date=November 2, 2012 |publisher=[[Science (journal)]] |accessdate=November 3, 2012 |deadurl=yes |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20121105070725/http://news.sciencemag.org/sciencenow/2012/11/curiosity-finds-methane-on-mars-.html |archivedate=November 5, 2012 |df= }}</ref><ref name="Space-20121102">{{cite web |last=Wall |first=Mike |title=Curiosity Rover Finds No Methane on Mars—Yet |url=http://www.space.com/18333-mars-rover-curiosity-methane-measurements.html |date=November 2, 2012 |publisher=[[Space.com]] |accessdate=November 3, 2012}}</ref><ref name="NYT-20121102">{{cite news |last=Chang |first=Kenneth |title=Hope of Methane on Mars Fades |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2012/11/03/science/space/hopes-for-methane-on-mars-deflated.html |date=November 2, 2012 |publisher=[[New York Times]] |accessdate=November 3, 2012}}</ref> The [[Mars Trace Gas Mission]] orbiter planned to launch in 2016 would further study the methane,<ref>{{Cite news |first=Paul |last=Rincon |authorlink= |title=Agencies outline Mars initiative |date=July 9, 2009 |publisher= |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/science/nature/8130393.stm |work=BBC News |pages= |accessdate=July 26, 2009 |language=}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |first= |last= |authorlink= |title=NASA orbiter to hunt for source of Martian methane in 2016 |date=March 6, 2009 |publisher= |url=http://www.thaindian.com/newsportal/health/nasa-orbiter-to-hunt-for-source-of-martian-methane-in-2016_100163335.html |work=Thaindian News |pages= |accessdate=July 26, 2009 |language=}}</ref> as well as its decomposition products such as [[formaldehyde]] and [[methanol]]. |
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On 16 December 2014, NASA reported the ''Curiosity'' rover detected a "tenfold spike", likely localized, in the amount of [[methane]] in the [[Atmosphere of Mars|Martian atmosphere]]. Sample measurements taken "a dozen times over 20 months" showed increases in late 2013 and early 2014, averaging "7 parts of methane per billion in the atmosphere." Before and after that, readings averaged around one-tenth that level.<ref name="NASA-20141216-GW">{{cite web |last=Webster |first=Guy |last2=Neal-Jones |first2=Nancy |last3=Brown |first3=Dwayne |title=NASA Rover Finds Active and Ancient Organic Chemistry on Mars |url=http://www.jpl.nasa.gov/news/news.php?release=2014-432 |date=December 16, 2014 |work=[[NASA]] |accessdate=December 16, 2014}}</ref><ref name="NYT-20141216-KC">{{cite news |last=Chang |first=Kenneth |title=‘A Great Moment’: Rover Finds Clue That Mars May Harbor Life |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2014/12/17/science/a-new-clue-in-the-search-for-life-on-mars.html |date=December 16, 2014 |work=[[New York Times]] |accessdate=December 16, 2014}}</ref> |
On 16 December 2014, NASA reported the ''Curiosity'' rover detected a "tenfold spike", likely localized, in the amount of [[methane]] in the [[Atmosphere of Mars|Martian atmosphere]]. Sample measurements taken "a dozen times over 20 months" showed increases in late 2013 and early 2014, averaging "7 parts of methane per billion in the atmosphere." Before and after that, readings averaged around one-tenth that level.<ref name="NASA-20141216-GW">{{cite web |last=Webster |first=Guy |last2=Neal-Jones |first2=Nancy |last3=Brown |first3=Dwayne |title=NASA Rover Finds Active and Ancient Organic Chemistry on Mars |url=http://www.jpl.nasa.gov/news/news.php?release=2014-432 |date=December 16, 2014 |work=[[NASA]] |accessdate=December 16, 2014}}</ref><ref name="NYT-20141216-KC">{{cite news |last=Chang |first=Kenneth |title=‘A Great Moment’: Rover Finds Clue That Mars May Harbor Life |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2014/12/17/science/a-new-clue-in-the-search-for-life-on-mars.html |date=December 16, 2014 |work=[[New York Times]] |accessdate=December 16, 2014}}</ref> |
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Revision as of 00:56, 4 June 2017
The Mars general circulation model (MGCM) is the result of a research project by NASA to understand the nature of the general circulation of the atmosphere of Mars, how that circulation is driven and how it affects the climate of Mars in the long term.
History
Mars climate simulation models date as far back as the Viking missions to Mars. Most Mars climate simulation models were written by individual researchers that were never reused or open-sourced. By the 1990s the need for a unified model codebase came into being, due to the general impact of the internet on climate modelling and research. This current Mars climate simulation model has its origins with the internet era.
How it works
This Mars climate model is a complex 3-dimensional (height, latitude, longitude) model, which represents the processes of atmospheric heating by gases and ground-air heat transfer, as well as large-scale atmospheric motions.[1]
The current model has not been modified for use with distributed computing systems like BOINC.
Methane on Mars
The Martian atmosphere contains 10 nmol/mol methane.[2] In January 2009, NASA scientists announced that they had discovered that the planet often vents methane into the atmosphere in specific areas, leading some to speculate this may be a sign of biological activity going on below the surface.[3]
Analysis of observations made by a Weather Research and Forecasting model for Mars (MarsWRF) and related Mars general circulation model (MGCM) suggests that it is potentially possible to isolate methane plume source locations to within tens of kilometers, which is within the roving capabilities of future Mars rovers.[4] The Curiosity rover, which landed on Mars in August 2012, is able to make measurements that distinguish between different isotopologues of methane;[5] but even if the mission is to determine that microscopic Martian life is the source of the methane, the life forms likely reside far below the surface, outside of the rover's reach.[6] The first measurements with the Tunable Laser Spectrometer (TLS) indicated that there is less than 5 ppb of methane at the landing site at the point of the measurement.[7][8][9][10] The Mars Trace Gas Mission orbiter planned to launch in 2016 would further study the methane,[11][12] as well as its decomposition products such as formaldehyde and methanol.
On 16 December 2014, NASA reported the Curiosity rover detected a "tenfold spike", likely localized, in the amount of methane in the Martian atmosphere. Sample measurements taken "a dozen times over 20 months" showed increases in late 2013 and early 2014, averaging "7 parts of methane per billion in the atmosphere." Before and after that, readings averaged around one-tenth that level.[13][14]
Other planets
There are global climate simulation models that have been written for Jupiter, Saturn, Neptune and Venus.[1]
See also
References
- ^ "Mars General Circulation Model – Research". NASA. Retrieved 2007-02-25.
- ^ ESA Press release. "Mars Express confirms methane in the Martian atmosphere". ESA. Archived from the original on 24 February 2006. Retrieved March 17, 2006.
{{cite web}}: Unknown parameter|deadurl=ignored (|url-status=suggested) (help) - ^ Mars Vents Methane in What Could Be Sign of Life, Washington Post, January 16, 2009
- ^ "Atmospheric Modeling of Martian Methane Plumes: The Debate Continues". NASA Solar System Exploration. April 3, 2012.
- ^ Tenenbaum, David (June 9, 2008). "Making Sense of Mars Methane". Astrobiology Magazine. Archived from the original on 23 September 2008. Retrieved October 8, 2008.
{{cite web}}: Unknown parameter|deadurl=ignored (|url-status=suggested) (help) - ^ Steigerwald, Bill (January 15, 2009). "Martian Methane Reveals the Red Planet is not a Dead Planet". NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center. NASA. Archived from the original on 17 January 2009. Retrieved January 24, 2009.
{{cite news}}: Unknown parameter|deadurl=ignored (|url-status=suggested) (help) - ^ "Mars Curiosity Rover News Telecon -November 2, 2012".
- ^ Kerr, Richard A. (November 2, 2012). "Curiosity Finds Methane on Mars, or Not". Science (journal). Archived from the original on November 5, 2012. Retrieved November 3, 2012.
{{cite web}}: Unknown parameter|deadurl=ignored (|url-status=suggested) (help) - ^ Wall, Mike (November 2, 2012). "Curiosity Rover Finds No Methane on Mars—Yet". Space.com. Retrieved November 3, 2012.
- ^ Chang, Kenneth (November 2, 2012). "Hope of Methane on Mars Fades". New York Times. Retrieved November 3, 2012.
- ^ Rincon, Paul (July 9, 2009). "Agencies outline Mars initiative". BBC News. Retrieved July 26, 2009.
- ^ "NASA orbiter to hunt for source of Martian methane in 2016". Thaindian News. March 6, 2009. Retrieved July 26, 2009.
- ^ Webster, Guy; Neal-Jones, Nancy; Brown, Dwayne (December 16, 2014). "NASA Rover Finds Active and Ancient Organic Chemistry on Mars". NASA. Retrieved December 16, 2014.
- ^ Chang, Kenneth (December 16, 2014). "'A Great Moment': Rover Finds Clue That Mars May Harbor Life". New York Times. Retrieved December 16, 2014.
