Initial investigation on different types of clouds observed by Mars
Colour Camera (MCC) from India’s first Mars Orbiter Mission (MOM)
Abstract
In the present work, we analysed different types of clouds observed at
the limb as well as over the surface of the red planet, captured by MCC
onboard the Indian Mars Orbiter Mission during orbit number 44,45,48,49,
50,51,179,187,190,191,466 and 474. The estimated height of the
high-altitude cloud (HAC) varies from 40 to 76 km and horizontal
spreading of 400 to 1100 km. We used ARC-GIS to detect the area over
which the high-altitude clouds are observed. These detached layers of
clouds are followed by a haze of dust and water-ice particles. MRO-MCS
and MARCI confirm a few dust events during the appearance of the
high-altitude cloud. The estimated wavelength of the Lee wave cloud
varies from 38 to 44 km while wind speed varies from 54 to 64 m/sec.
Aerosol Optical Depth (AOD) as a function of altitude varies from 0.6 to
2.4 for the red channel and 0.8 to 1.8 for the blue channel with an
effective radius of 0.2 to 3.0 μm for the aerosol. We consulted the
Global Circulation Model (GCM) as well as MOLA-DEM to frame the AOD
output. Estimated wind speed profile from MCC and MARCI-MGDM suggested
the circulation of strong wind across the globe and delivered input to
the formation of clouds through different processes related to the
atmosphere dynamics viz. Deep Convection, Orographic lift, Thermal
updraft, etc. In our present study, we tried to estimate the parameter
related to these processes and tried to correlate them with the observed
events.