Engineering topics

Tillman, J. E.

Publications and source records attributed to Tillman, J. E..

At least 19 records

NASA NTRS2000

In-Situ Environmental Measurements Needed for Future Mars Missions

Existing measurements and modeling studies indicate that the climate and general circulation of the thin, predominately CO2 Martian atmosphere are characterized by large-amplitude variations with a wide range of spatial and temporal scales. Remote sensing observations from Earth-based telescopes and the Mariner 9, Viking, Phobos, and Mars Global Surveyor (MGS) orbiters show that the prevailing climate includes large-scale seasonal variations in surface and atmospheric temperatures (140 to 300 K), dust optical depth (0.15 to 1), and water vapor (10 to 100 precipitable microns). These observations also provided the first evidence for episodic regional and global dust storms that produce even larger perturbations in the atmospheric thermal structure and general circulation. In-situ measurements by the Viking and Mars Pathfinder Landers reinforced these conclusions, documenting changes in the atmospheric pressure on diurnal (5%) and seasonal (>20%) time scales, as well as large diurnal variations in the near-surface temperature (40 to 70 K), wind velocity (0 to 35 m/s), and dust optical depth (0.3 to 6). These in-situ measurements also reveal phenomena with temporal and spatial scales that cannot be resolved from orbit, including rapid changes in near-surface temperatures (+/- 10 K in 10 seconds), large near-surface vertical temperature gradients (+/- 15 K/meter), diurnally-varying slope winds, and dust devils . Modeling studies indicate that these changes are forced primarily by diurnal and seasonal variations in solar insolation, but they also include contributions from atmospheric thermal tides, baroclinic waves (fronts), Kelvin waves, slope winds, and monsoonal flows from the polar caps.

Crisp, D.↗

NASA NTRS1999

Atmospheric Science Experiment for Mars: ATMIS for the Netlander 2005 Mission

ATMIS (Atmospheric and Meteorological Instrumentation System) is a versatile suite of atmospheric instrumentation to be accommodated onboard the Netlander Mission slated for launch in 2005. Four Netlanders are planned to form a geophysical measurement network on the surface of Mars. The atmospheric sciences are among the scientific disciplines benefiting most of the network concept. The goal of the ATMIS instrument is to provide new data on the atmospheric vertical structure, regional and global circulation phenomena, the Martian Planetary Boundary Layer (PBL) and atmosphere-surface interactions, dust storm triggering mechanisms, as well as the climatological cycles of H2O, dust and CO2. To reach the goal of characterization of a number of phenomena exhibiting both spatial and temporal variations, simultaneous observations of multiple variables at spatially displaced sites Deforming a network D are required. The in situ observations made by the ATMIS sensors will be supported by extensive modeling efforts. Additional information is contained in the original extended abstract.

Harri, A.-M.↗

NASA NTRS1997

On the Potential Impact of Daytime Surface Sensible Heat Flux on the Dissipation of Martian Cold Air Outbreaks

The Martian daytime soil surface temperature is governed primarily by the net irradiance balance and surface soil heat flux. Thus the outbreak of a cold air mass generates increased sensible heat flux that is conducive to daytime dissipation of the cold air mass thermal characteristics. Conceptual and scaling evaluations of this dissipation are provided while comparison is made with similar situations on Earth. It is estimated that sensible heat flux contribution to the dissipation of the original thermal structure of the cold air could be three times larger than the corresponding situation on Earth. Illustrative numerical model simulations provide scaling of the potential impact on the dissipation of cold air masses for various combinations of background wind speed and latitudes.

Segal, M.↗

NASA NTRS1992

Micro weather stations for in situ measurements in the Martian planetary boundary layer

Viking Lander meteorology measurements show that the Martian planetary boundary layer (PBL) has large diurnal and seasonal variations in pressure, wind velocity, relative humidity, and airborne dust loading. An even larger range of conditions was inferred from remote sensing observations acquired by the Mariner 9 and Viking orbiters. Numerical models indicate that these changes may be accompanied by dramatic vertical and horizontal wind shears (100 m/s/km) and rapid changes in the static stability. In-situ measurements from a relatively small number surface stations could yield global constraints on the Martian climate and atmospheric general circulation by providing ground truth for remote sensing instruments on orbiters. A more complete understanding of the meteorology of the PBL is an essential precursor to manned missions to Mars because this will be their working environment. In-situ measurements are needed for these studies because the spatial and temporal scales that characterize the important meteorological processes near the surface cannot be resolved from orbit. The Mars Environmental Survey (MESUR) Program will provide the first opportunity to deploy a network of surface weather stations for a comprehensive investigation of the Martian PBL. The feasibility and utility of a network of micro-weather stations for making in-situ meteorological measurements in the Martian PBL are assessed.

Crisp, D.↗

NASA NTRS1985

Martian meteorology and dust storms from Viking observations

Analysis of Viking lander data on atmospheric pressure and temperature variations showed that planning for a manned base will require careful consideration of the effects of local and global dust storms. It is demonstrated that there may be preferred seasons for landing when dust storms are not at maximum strength, as well as preferred latitudes where dust storms are uncharacteristically weak. Viking I data on the diurnal variation in pressure and temperature prior to and during dust storm events are reproduced in graphic form.

Tillman, J. E.↗

NASA NTRS1985

Interannual variability of Martian weather

Pressure, temperature, imaging, and wind data from the Mutch Memorial Station, the Viking lander located in Mars' subtropics, are used to demonstrate the existence of two disctinct regimes of northern hemisphere winter weather on Mars. One of these regime is characterized by one or more intense global dust storms in which the optical depth reaches about 5 over most of the planet. During these events, traveling baroclinic waves of the winter hemisphere are suppressed. In the other regime, there are no global dust storms, but traveling baroclinic waves are active, and high winds associated with these storms raise large quantities of dust which remain confined to a shallow layer in the northern hemisphere. The strongest winds at the Mutch Memorial Station occur during intense storms in the latter regime.

Leovy, C. B.↗

NASA NTRS1980

The annual cycle of pressure on Mars measured by Viking landers 1 and 2

Daily mean atmospheric pressures at the two Viking landers are presented for slightly more than a Martian year. The seasonal variation of pressure owing to exchange of CO2 with the polar caps is quite evident and contradicts, in part, earlier theoretical results. Day-to-day variations are the result of passage of synoptic-scale high and low pressure systems and are an important clue to the general circulation of the atmosphere. The effects of global dust storms on the general circulation and on the diurnal variation of pressure are detected and interpreted.

Hess, S. L.↗

NASA NTRS1979

The seasonal variation of atmospheric pressure on Mars as affected by the south polar cap

The daily mean pressures at two locations on Mars, observed over 57% of a Martian year, reveal a semiannual oscillation with a peak-to-peak difference that is 26% of the mean pressure. This intrinsically Martian phenomenon is caused by exchange of CO2 between the atmosphere and the winter polar caps. Evidence is presented that the difference in pressure at the two landers varies with season and that the seasonal variation is not completely removed by hydrostatic correction for the difference in elevation. The mass CO2 sublimed from the south polar cap is estimated to be greater than or equal to 7.9 x 10 to the 12th metric tons, corresponding to a mean thickness of solid CO2 over the maximum extent of that cap of greater than or equal to 23 cm. Estimates are formed of the meridonal wind speed conveying gas out of the dissipating cap and the associated zonal geostrophic wind, both averaged over longitude. The results are approximately 2.3 m/sec and 14 m/sec, respectively.

Hess, S. L.↗

NASA NTRS1979

Frontal systems during passage of the Martian north polar hood over the Viking Lander 2 site prior to the first 1977 dust storm

Analysis of a 12-sol period of wind speed, wind direction, temperature, pressure, and optical depth at the Viking Lander 2 site presents the first in situ evidence of high- and low-pressure systems, complete with fronts, on the surface of Mars. The discovery of these systems in the Lander data occurred while analyzing a period during which the north polar hood was advected over the site at midday, dramatically decreasing the surface illumination and surface-to-atmospheric heat flux. This obscuration immediately preceded a global dust storm in the southern hemisphere and low latitudes of the northern hemisphere. The direct effects of the dust storm, reached 48 N, the Lander 2 latitude, later more gradually than they reached the 22 deg N latitude of Lander 1. The system responsible for the polar hood passages is a major disturbance, and it appears that radiational damping is inadequate to stop strong frontal formation. The front analyzed is characteristic of a repetitive series of systems that pass roughly every 3.3 sols. These systems are similar to those predicted by theoretical analyses and by general circulation modeling of the Martian atmosphere and those observed in laboratory experiments.

Tillman, J. E.↗

NASA NTRS1978

Diurnal variations of the Martian surface layer meteorological parameters during the first 45 sols at two Viking Lander sites

Wind speed, ambient and surface temperatures from both Viking Landers have been used to compute bulk Richardson numbers and Monin-Obukhov lengths during the earliest phase of the Mars missions. These parameters are used to estimate drag and heat transfer coefficients, friction velocities and surface heat fluxes at the two sites. The principal uncertainty is in the specification of the roughness length. Maximum heat fluxes occur near local noon at both sites, and are estimated to be in the range 15-20 W/sq m at the Viking 1 site and 10-15 W/sq m at the Viking 2 site. Maximum values of friction velocity occur in late morning at Viking 1 and are estimated to be 0.4-0.6 m/s. They occur shortly after dawn at the Viking 2 site where peak values are estimated to be in the range 0.25-0.35 m/s. Extension of these calculations to later times during the mission will require allowance for dust opacity effects in the estimation of surface temperature and in the correction of radiation errors of the Viking 2 temperature sensor.

Sutton, J. L.↗

NASA NTRS1978

Mars meteorology - Three seasons at the surface

We summarize some meteorological results from Viking for northern summer, autumn and winter. Little Sol-to-Sol meteorological change was observed during summer, except for secular pressure change. However, a regular sequence of weather disturbances, interpreted as baroclinic waves, appeared primarily at VL-2 during autumn and winter. The number of Rossby waves present at a given instant is calculated to be 4 and 6 for these seasons. The extreme regularity and low wave number make these systems closely resemble the baroclinic waves of rotating annulus experiments.

Ryan, J. A.↗

NASA NTRS1978

Dynamics of the boundary layer of Mars

Measurements of daily average atmospheric pressure fluctuations at near-tropical and mid-latitude sites on the Martian northern hemisphere are analyzed with respect to their relation to seasonal and shorter period processes. The variability of the sol (Martian day) mean pressure at the mid-latitude site is five times the variability at the near-tropical site during the fall season. Variations in atmospheric dust result in more pronounced effects in the diurnal and semidiurnal pressure components, and at the southern rather than the northern site, due to the origin of most of the dust in the southern hemisphere during this season. Periods on the order of 3 to 4 sols, similar to terrestrial synoptic periods, appear at both sites, with a sharper spectrum at the northern site.

Tillman, J. E.↗

NASA NTRS1977

Meteorological results from the surface of Mars - Viking 1 and 2

The meteorology equipment carried by the Viking landers was intended to measure atmospheric temperature, wind speed, wind direction, and pressure. During the summer months, the winds were a few meters per second, with a complex hodograph and the Lander-1 site, dominated by counterclockwise turning of the wind, and a simpler hodograph at the Lander-2 site, marked by clockwise turning of the wind. With advancing season, the repetitive wind pattern began to break down, and protracted northeasterly winds were recorded on several occasions (some of which are associated with lower than normal temperatures). Examples are given of wind and temperature traces over short periods, illustrating the effects of convection, static stability, and lander interference. A theoretical argument, based on the horizontal scale dictated by heating of slopes and on vertical mixing of momentum, is presented to explain the different sense of wind rotation at the two lander sites.

Hess, S. L.↗

NASA NTRS1976

Early meteorological results from the Viking 2 lander

Early results from the meteorological instruments on the Viking 2 lander are presented. As on lander 1, the daily patterns of temperature, wind, and pressure have been highly repetitive during the early summer period. The average daily maximum temperature was 241 K and the diurnal minimum was 191 K. The wind has a vector mean of 0.7 meter per second from the southeast with a diurnal amplitude of 3 meters per second. Pressure exhibits both diurnal and semidiurnal oscillations, although of substantially smaller amplitude than those of lander 1. Departures from the repetitive diurnal patterns begin to appear on sol 37.

Hess, S. L.↗

NASA NTRS1976

Mars climatology from Viking 1 after 20 sols

Results from the meteorology instruments on the Viking 1 lander are presented for the first 20 sols of operation. The daily patterns of temperature, wind, and pressure have been highly consistent during the period. Hence, these have been assembled into 20-sol composistes and analyzed harmonically. Maximum temperature was 241.8 K and minimum was 187.2 K. The composite wind vector has a mean diurnal magnitude of 2.4 meters per second with prevailing wind from the south and counterclockwise diurnal rotation. Pressure exhibits diurnal and semidiurnal oscillations. The diurnal is ascribed to a combination of effects, and the semidiurnal appears to be the solar semidiurnal tide. Similarities to earth are discussed. A major finding is a continual secular decrease in diurnal mean pressure. This is ascribed to carbon dioxide deposition at the south polar cap.

Hess, S. L.↗

NASA NTRS1976

Atmospheric measurements on Mars - The Viking meteorology experiment

The Viking meteorology experiment is one of nine experiments to be carried out on the surface of Mars by each of two Viking Landers positioned at different latitudes and longitudes in the Northern Hemisphere. The meteorology experiment will measure pressure, temperature, wind speed, and wind direction at 1.5-hr intervals throughout the Martian day. The duration of each measurement period, the interval between data samples for a measurement period, and the time at which the measurement period is started will be varied throughout the mission. The scientific investigation and the sensors and electronics used for making the atmospheric measurement are discussed.

Chamberlain, T. E.↗

NASA NTRS1976

Viking-1 meteorological measurements - First impressions

A preliminary evaluation is given of in situ meteorological measurements made by Viking 1 on Mars. The data reported show that: (1) the atmosphere has approximate volume mixing ratios of 1.5% argon, 3% nitrogen, and 95% carbon dioxide; (2) the diurnal temperature range is large and regular, with a sunrise minimum of about 188 K and a midafternoon maximum near 244 K; (3) air and ground temperatures coincide quite closely during the night, but ground temperature exceeds air temperature near midday by as much as 25 C; (4) the winds exhibit a marked diurnal cycle; and (5) a large diurnal pressure variation with an afternoon minimum and an early-morning maximum parallels the wind pattern. The variations are explained in terms of familiar meteorological processes. It is suggested that latent heat is unlikely to play an important role on Mars because no evidence has been observed for traveling synoptic-scale disturbances such as those that occur in the terrestrial tropics.

Hess, S. L.↗

NASA NTRS1976

Preliminary meteorological results on Mars from the Viking 1 lander

The results from the meteorology instruments on the Viking 1 lander are presented for the first 4 sols of operation. The instruments are working satisfactorily. Temperatures fluctuated from a low of 188 K to an estimated maximum of 244 K. The mean pressure is 7.65 millibars with a diurnal variation of amplitude 0.1 millibar. Wind speeds averaged over several minutes have ranged from essentially calm to 9 meters per second. Wind directions have exhibited a remarkable regularity which may be associated with nocturnal downslope winds and gravitational oscillations, or to tidal effects of the diurnal pressure wave, or to both.

Hess, S. L.↗