Abstract
The Mars2020 Perseverance Rover landed successfully on the Martian
surface on the Jezero Crater floor (18.44°N, 77.45°E) at Martian solar
longitude, $L_s$, $\sim$5 in February 2021. Since
then it has produced highly valuable environmental measurements with a
versatile scientific payload including the MEDA (Mars Environmental
Dynamics Analyzer) suite of environmental sensors. One of the MEDA
systems is the PS pressure sensor system which weighs 40 grams and has
an estimated absolute accuracy of better than 3.5 Pa and a resolution of
0.13 Pa. We present initial results from the first 414 sols of Martian
atmospheric surface pressure observations by the PS whose performance
was found to meet its specifications. Observed sol-averaged atmospheric
pressures follow an anticipated pattern of pressure variation in the
course of the advancing season and are consistent with data from other
landing missions. The observed diurnal pressure amplitude varies by
$\sim$2-5 \% of the sol-averaged
pressure, with absolute amplitude 10-35 Pa in an approximately direct
relationship with airborne dust. During a regional dust storm, which
began at $L_s~135^\circ$ the
diurnal pressure amplitude roughly doubles. The diurnal pressure
variations were found to be remarkably sensitive to the seasonal
evolution of the atmosphere. In particular analysis of the diurnal
pressure signature revealed diagnostic information likely related to the
regional scale structure of the atmosphere. Comparison of Perseverance
pressure observations to data from other landers reveals the global
scale seasonal behaviour of Mars’ atmosphere.