Berlin 2014 – scientific programme

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EP: Fachverband Extraterrestrische Physik

EP 4: Planeten

EP 4.1: Invited Talk

Tuesday, March 18, 2014, 14:00–14:30, DO24 1.103

Atmospheric Waves on Mars and Venus — •Silvia Tellmann¹, Bernd Häusler², Martin Pätzold¹, Michael K. Bird^1,3, G. Leonard Tyler⁴, Thomas P. Andert², and Stefan Remus⁵ — ¹RIU Köln, Abteilung Planetenforschung, Universität zu Köln, Köln, Deutschland — ²Institut für Raumfahrttechnik, Universität der Bundeswehr München, Neubiberg, Deutschland — ³Argelander Institut für Astronomie, Universität Bonn, Deutschland — ⁴Department of Electrical Engineering, Stanford University, Stanford, California, USA — ⁵ESA ESAC, Villa Franca, Spain

The atmospheres of Venus and Mars show a wide range of atmospheric wave phenomena on all spatial scales. Next to quasi-horizontal waves and eddies on near planetary scales, diurnally forced eddies and thermal tides, small-scale gravity waves and turbulence play an important role in the energy and momentum budget of the planets. They are also assumed to contribute significantly to the maintenance of the atmospheric superrotation on Venus.

The Radio Science Experiments on Mars Express (MaRS) and Venus Express (VeRa) retrieved an extensive atmospheric data set in the mesosphere and troposphere of Venus as well as in the lower atmosphere of Mars, respectively. The atmospheric profiles cover a wide range of latitudes and local times, enabling us to study wave phenomena at different spatial scales. These studies contribute significantly to the understanding of the forcing mechanisms and the coupling of the waves to the background atmosphere. Wave drag and heat fluxes deliver insight into the atmospheric dynamics on these planets.