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InSight Pressure Data Recalibration, and its Application to the Study of Long-Term Pressure Changes on Mars
  • +9
  • Lucas Lange,
  • Francois Forget,
  • Donald Banfield,
  • Michael J. Wolff,
  • Aymeric Spiga,
  • Ehouarn Millour,
  • Daniel Viúdez-Moreiras,
  • Antoine Bierjon,
  • Sylvain Piqueux,
  • Claire Newman,
  • Jorge Pla-García,
  • William Bruce Banerdt
Lucas Lange
Laboratoire de Météorologie Dynamique,Institut Pierre-Simon Laplace (LMD/IPSL), Sorbonne Université, Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS), École Polytechnique, École Normale Supérieure (ENS), Paris, France, Laboratoire de Météorologie Dynamique,Institut Pierre-Simon Laplace (LMD/IPSL), Sorbonne Université, Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS), École Polytechnique, École Normale Supérieure (ENS), Paris, France

Corresponding Author:[email protected]

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Francois Forget
Laboratoire de Meteorologie Dynamique, Laboratoire de Meteorologie Dynamique
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Donald Banfield
Cornell, Cornell
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Michael J. Wolff
Space Science Institute, Space Science Institute
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Aymeric Spiga
Laboratoire de Météorologie Dynamique, Laboratoire de Météorologie Dynamique
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Ehouarn Millour
Laboratoire de Météorologie Dynamique, Laboratoire de Météorologie Dynamique
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Daniel Viúdez-Moreiras
Centro de Astrobiología (INTA-CSIC), Centro de Astrobiología (INTA-CSIC)
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Antoine Bierjon
Laboratoire de Météorologie Dynamique, Laboratoire de Météorologie Dynamique
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Sylvain Piqueux
Jet Propulsion Laboratory, Jet Propulsion Laboratory
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Claire Newman
Aeolis Research, Aeolis Research
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Jorge Pla-García
Centro de Astrobiología (CSIC-INTA), Centro de Astrobiología (CSIC-INTA)
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William Bruce Banerdt
Jet Propulsion Laboratory, Jet Propulsion Laboratory
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Abstract

Observations of the South Polar Residual Cap suggest a possible erosion of the cap, leading to an increase of the global mass of the atmosphere. We test this assumption by making the first comparison between Viking 1 and InSight surface pressure data that have been recorded with ~40 years of difference. Such a comparison also allows us to determine changes in the dynamics of the seasonal ice caps between these two periods. To do so, we first had to recalibrate the InSight pressure data because of their unexpected sensitivity to the sensor temperature. Then, we had to design a procedure to compare distant pressure measurements. We propose two surface pressure interpolation methods at the local and global scale to do the comparison. The comparison of Viking and InSight seasonal surface pressure variations does not show major changes in the CO2 cycle. Such conclusions are also supported by an analysis of the Mars Science Laboratory (MSL) pressure data. Further comparisons with images of the south seasonal cap taken by the Viking 2 orbiter and MARCI camera do not display significant changes in the dynamic of this cap within ~40 years. Only a possible larger extension of the North Cap after the global storm of MY 34 is observed, but the physical mechanisms behind this anomaly are not well determined. Finally, the first comparison of MSL and InSight pressure data suggests a pressure deficit at Gale crater during southern summer, possibly resulting from a large presence of dust suspended within the crater.