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Search indexed NASA NTRS and DOE OSTI research on propulsion, heat transfer, battery materials and energy systems. Follow report and document links to the original sources.

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At least 55 records · Page 3
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NASA NTRS2000

Seasonal Record of Cloud Activity Observed by MOLA

After a quarter billion laser shots, Mars Orbiter Laser Altimeter (MOLA) has now recorded more atmospheric observations alone than all previous planetary lidar missions have returned in total.

Neumann, G. A.↗
NASA NTRS1999

Implications of MOLA Global Roughness, Statistics, and Topography

New insights are emerging as the ongoing high-quality measurements of the Martian surface topography by Mars Orbiter Laser Altimeter (MOLA) on board the Mars Global Surveyor (MGS) spacecraft increase in coverage, resolution, and diversity. For the first time, a global characterization of the statistical properties of topography is possible. The data were collected during the aerobreaking hiatus, science phasing, and mapping orbits of MGS, and have a resolution of 300-400 m along track, a range resolution of 37.5 cm, a range precision of 1-10 m for surface slopes up to 30 deg., and an absolute accuracy of topography of 13 m. The spacecraft's orbit inclination dictates that nadir observations have latitude coverage of about 87.1S to 87.1N; the addition of observations obtained during a period of off-nadir pointing over the north pole extended coverage to 90N. Additional information is contained in the original extended abstract.

Aharonson, O.↗
NASA NTRS1999

Simulations of the Surface Pressure Tides on Mars Incorporating New MOLA Topography Data

Simulations of surface pressure tides on Mars have been conducted previously with the NASA Ames Mars General Circulation Model (MGCM), as well as by Wilson and Hamilton. In the case of the MGCM, annual simulations with realistic (Viking-derived) dust loading have been reasonably successful at reproducing observed tides at the Viking Lander sites. One obvious discrepancy between observed and simulated tides is the amplification found in the model's diurnal tidal amplitude around L(sub s) 90. The observations show no such amplification. We report here on recent simulations of the surface pressure tide on Mars conducted with the MGCM and with the newly acquired MOLA topography data. The data is provided at 1deg x 1deg resolution, and is used by the MGCM at 7.5deg x 9deg resolution. The vertical domain of the MGCM extends to around 80 km. In the simulations reported in, the vertical domain extended to around 50 km, and the Consortium topography dataset was used. Additional information is contained in the original extended abstract.

Bridger, A. F. C.↗
NASA NTRS1999

Extension Across Tempe Terra, Mars from MOLA Topographic Measurements

Previously, methods of estimating the extension across grabens and rifts on Mars by necessity relied on photogeologic methods such as shadow measurement, crater ellipticity, or photoclinometry. With the new data being returned by the Mars Global Surveyor, specifically from the Mars Orbital Laser Altimeter (MOLA), it is now possible to directly measure the depths of these structures and therefore to estimate more accurately the amount of extension. Here we provide an example of this new approach in the Tempe Terra region. Additional information is contained in the original extended abstract.

Harrington, B. W.↗
NASA NTRS1999

Southern Hemisphere Storm Zones on Mars: Implications of MOLA Topography

Using the NASA Ames Mars general circulation model and recent Mars orbiter laser altimeter (MOLA) global topography, annual-cycle simulations have been performed corresponding to a lowglobally-averaged atmospheric dust loading (tau= 0 - 3). Comparisons of key global circulation fields as simulated utilizing previous topography datasets and those using the new Mars global topography have been carried out. Values of globally and/or hemispheric averaged kinetic energy associated with the longitudinally averaged (i.e., zonal) circulation and longitudinal departures (i.e., eddy components) as a function of season for simulations using the different topography datasets are provided contributions arising frommeteorological variability associated with thermal tides, stationary circulation components and recurrent weather systems (transient baroclinc and/or barotropic eddies). It can be noted that eddy activity in the northern hemisphere (NH) is substantially diminished using the new topographic data, and that at some seasons, the southern hemisphere (SH) activity is moderately increased. Additional information is contained in the original extended abstract.

Hollingsworth, J. L.↗
NASA NTRS1999

Martian Polar Impact Craters: A Preliminary Assessment Using Mars Orbiter Laser Altimeter (MOLA)

Our knowledge of the age of the layered polar deposits and their activity in the volatile cycling and climate history of Mars is based to a large extent on their apparent ages as determined from crater counts. Interpretation of the polar stratigraphy (in terms of climate change) is complicated by reported differences in the ages of the northern and southern layered deposits. The north polar residual ice deposits are thought to be relatively young, based on the reported lack of any fresh impact craters in Viking Orbiter Images. Herkenhoff et al., report no craters at all on the North polar layered deposits or ice cap, and placed an upper bound on the surface age (or, alternatively, the vertical resurfacing rate) of 100 thousand years to 10 million years, suggesting that the north polar region is an active resurfacing site. In contrast, the southern polar region was found to have at least 15 impact craters in the layered deposits and cap. Plaut et al, concluded that the surface was less than or = 120 million years old. This reported age difference factor of 100 to 1000 increases complexity in climate and volatile modeling. Recent MOLA results for the topography of the northern polar cap document a handful or more of possible craters, which could result in revised age or resurfacing estimates for the northern cap. This study is a preliminary look at putative craters in both polar caps. Additional information is contained in the original extended abstract.

Sakimoto, S. E. H.↗
NASA NTRS1997

MOLA II Laser Transmitter Calibration and Performance

The goal of the document is to explain the algorithm for determining the laser output energy from the telemetry data within the return packets from MOLA II. A simple algorithm is developed to convert the raw start detector data into laser energy, measured in millijoules. This conversion is dependent on three variables, start detector counts, array heat sink temperature and start detector temperature. All these values are contained within the return packets. The conversion is applied to the GSFC Thermal Vacuum data as well as the in-space data to date and shows good correlation.

Afzal, Robert S.↗