Mars atmospheric dynamics as simulated by the NASA Ames general circulation model. 1. The zonal-mean circulation

Abstract

At the solstices the zonal-mean circulation consists of a single cross-equatorial Hadley circulation between 30°S and 30°N. For relatively modest dust loadings (τ=0.3), the associated peak mass flux is 100 × 108kg s-1 at northern winter solstice and 55 × 108 kg s-1 at southern winter solstice. At both seasons, westerlies dominate the winter hemisphere, and easterlies dominate the summer hemisphere. Maximum zonal winds occur near the model top (~47km) and are about the same at both seasons: 120 m s-1 in the winter hemisphere and 60 m s-1 in the summer hemisphere. Mean surface westerlies of 10-20 m s-1 are predicted at the middle and high latitudes of the winter hemisphere. -from Authors