Measurements of atmospheric composition on Earth and Mars

地球和火星大气成分的测量

• 批准号: 3404-2011
• 负责人: Drummond, James
• 金额: $ 2.04万
• 依托单位: Dalhousie University
• 依托单位国家: 加拿大
• 项目类别: Discovery Grants Program - Individual
• 财政年份: 2015
• 资助国家: 加拿大
• 起止时间: 2015-01-01 至 2016-12-31
• 项目状态: 已结题
• 来源: https://www.nserc-crsng.gc.ca/ase-oro/Details-Detailles_eng.asp?id=568291
• 关键词: Measurements; atmospheric; composition; Earth; Mars

Understanding a planetary atmosphere requires that we understand a number of linked phenomena including the composition and chemistry, the way in which energy is transported, and the motions (dynamics) of the atmosphere. The composition, chemistry and energy transport are linked because the absorption and emission of energy are controlled by chemicals such as ozone and carbon dioxide that are present in very low concentrations, and these in turn are affected by the chemistry. The proposed research program has an overall goal of understanding two planetary atmospheres. 1) Within the Earth's atmosphere we propose making measurements in Eastern Canada to look at the gases leaving North America to cross the Atlantic to Europe. Intercontinental transport of pollution is important both from a scientific point of view and eventually from a regulatory point of view. Frequent measurements will enable us to understand how this transport occurs, its magnitude and its variations. In addition we will work with satellite instrumentation, both analysing data for gaseous composition of the atmosphere, and developing new instrumentation for use in the future 2) Mars is an "Earth-like" planet, but its atmosphere is very different from our own, being much thinner and mostly carbon dioxide. Some significant scientific questions are: Why does it have the composition that it does? How did it get this way? What does this tell us about the rest of the planet? A new instrument to measure the atmosphere of Mars will help us to answer these questions. The Mars Atmospheric Trace Molecule Occultation Spectrometer (MATMOS) will be the primary instrument on the Trace Gas Orbiter (TGO) that is part of the ESA-NASA Exobiology on Mars (ExoMars) mission. MATMOS has significant Canadian content and Canadian presence in the Science Team led by the Canadian Space Agency. Although launch is not until 2016, investigations will begin now into the best use of the data that will be obtained from this important mission.

了解行星大气层需要我们了解许多相互关联的现象，包括大气层的成分和化学成分、能量传输方式以及运动（动力学）。 成分、化学和能量传输是相互联系的，因为能量的吸收和发射是由浓度非常低的臭氧和二氧化碳等化学物质控制的，而这些化学物质又受到化学的影响。 拟议的研究计划的总体目标是了解两个行星的大气层。 1) 在地球大气层内，我们建议在加拿大东部进行测量，以观察离开北美穿越大西洋到达欧洲的气体。 无论从科学角度还是从监管角度来看，洲际污染输送都很重要。 频繁的测量将使我们能够了解这种传输是如何发生的、其大小及其变化。 此外，我们将与卫星仪器合作，分析大气中气体成分的数据，并开发未来使用的新仪器 2）火星是一颗“类地”行星，但它的大气层与我们的大气层非常不同，要稀薄得多，而且主要是二氧化碳。一些重要的科学问题是：为什么它有这样的成分？怎么会变成这样呢？这告诉我们关于地球其他地方的什么信息？ 测量火星大气的新仪器将帮助我们回答这些问题。 火星大气痕量分子掩星光谱仪 (MATMOS) 将成为痕量气体轨道器 (TGO) 上的主要仪器，该轨道器是欧空局-美国宇航局火星外太空生物学 (ExoMars) 任务的一部分。 MATMOS 具有重要的加拿大内容，并且在加拿大航天局领导的科学团队中也有加拿大人的身影。 尽管发射要到 2016 年，但现在就开始调查如何最好地利用从这一重要任务中获得的数据。