The high-resolution occultation data from China’s Tianwen-1 probe is first used to study internal gravity waves in the Martian atmosphere

Internal gravity waves play a crucial role in the transfer of energy and momentum within planetary atmospheres. In the Martian atmosphere, these waves propagate vertically, transporting energy and momentum from the lower to the upper atmosphere, thereby exerting a significant influence on the planet’s overall dynamical structure. They also modulate small-scale atmospheric phenomena, such as the formation and evolution of dust storms and the dynamics of polar vortices.

Recently, Earth and Planetary Physics published the latest findings from Professor Cunying Xiao's team at Beijing Normal University on internal gravity waves in the Martian atmosphere. Utilizing the temperature data from Tianwen-1’s radio occultation experiment, combined with occultation data from the Mars Global Surveyor (MGS), the team extracted and analyzed key parameters of Martian internal gravity waves, including vertical wavelength, frequency, and energy density, etc. Their results indicate that these waves predominantly exhibit small-scale vertical wavelengths ranging from 6 to 13 km, while their horizontal wavelengths can extend to several thousand kilometers. The waves propagate almost vertically, with frequencies near the inertial frequency, characteristic of low-frequency inertial gravity waves.

Comparative analysis revealed that internal gravity wave activity observed in Tianwen-1 data exhibits greater intensity, higher energy density, and lower dissipation compared to MGS data from the northern hemisphere. Furthermore, MGS observations in the southern hemisphere show higher buoyancy frequencies, corresponding to shorter vertical wavelengths, suggesting a more stable background atmosphere that facilitates wave propagation.

These findings provide critical insights into the characteristics and variability of internal gravity waves in the Martian atmosphere. They offer valuable guidance for refining and improving global Martian atmospheric circulation models. Additionally, comparative studies of internal gravity waves on Mars, Earth, and other planets will advance our understanding of the fundamental principles governing atmospheric dynamics across planetary environments.

Details of the study are available in the original article:

Xiao, L., Xiao, C. Y.*, Hu, X., Wang, Z. W., and Wu, X. Q. (2024). Research on internal gravity waves in the Martian atmosphere based on Tianwen-1 and Mars Global Surveyor occultation data. Earth Planet. Phys., 8(6), 890–898. DOI: 10.26464/epp2024067.

Original link：http://doi.org/10.26464/epp2024067