New technique for retrieving pressure and temperature distributions in the Martian atmosphere from the infrared limb observations

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We propose a study aimed at developing a new technique for retrieving pressure and temperature distributions in the Martian atmosphere from the infrared limb observations of this atmosphere by instruments on board of Mars orbiting satellites. These improved pressure and temperature distributions are needed as input for general circulation models (GCM) necessary for understanding the structure and circulation of the Martian atmosphere. The technique will be based on the algorithm of forward-fitting observed spectra, which avoids solving the ill-conditioned inverse radiative transfer problem. The new technique will allow extending the existing retrievals higher up to about 70-80 km by detailed accounting for the break-down of the local thermodynamic equilibrium in the middle and upper atmosphere. It will be applied to the re-evaluation of the MGS/TES limb 15 µm observations and to the processing of the 15 µm PFS/Mars-express limb observations available. Improved and extended pressure and temperature distributions will be applied for validating the Martian GCM under the development in the framework of the MAOAM project as well as in the assimilation system based on this model.