Studying the Structure and Composition of the Atmosphere of Mars by High-Resolution Infrared Heterodyne Spectroscopy

了解行星大气中的物理过程对于发展大气环流模式（GCM）和长期气候预测至关重要。除了地球，这是高度的兴趣，特别是对类地行星火星和金星。模拟所用模型中的一些关键参数，如风速、温度、分子丰度或压力，可以详细预测大气行为，包括大气化学。遥感行星大气的一种理想工具是高光谱分辨率红外外差光谱学。与微波观测相反，除了高光谱分辨率之外，还可以容易地实现足够的空间分辨率。从完全分辨的分子谱线可以直接推导出发射和吸收气体的速度、温度或丰度。特别是在火星的情况下，由于几次空间飞行任务的数据，大气模型在过去几年中有了很大的改进。然而，这些数据是有选择性的，来自火星有限的海拔地区。需要从其他（大多是较高的）大气区域进行额外的观测，以约束和验证模型，并支持对较低分辨率数据的解释。外差测量可以提供补充信息，如高层大气风或垂直气体丰度分布，从而提高对火星大气的理解，包括将火星视为系外行星原型。拟议的工作还将包括专门针对儿童的教育和公共宣传工作。

Understanding of the physical processes in planetary atmospheres is essential for the development of general circulation models (GCM) and for longterm climate predictions. Besides the Earth, this is of high interest especially for the terrestrial planets Mars and Venus. Simulation of a number of key parameters in the used models like wind velocity, temperature, molecular abundances or pressure leads to a detailed prediction of the atmospheric behaviour including atmospheric chemistry. An ideal tool for remote sensing of planetary atmospheres is high spectral resolution infrared heterodyne spectroscopy. In contrast to microwave observations an adequate spatial resolution can be achieved easily in addition to the high spectral resolution. From fully resolved molecular lines velocity, temperature or abundance of the emitting and absorbing gas can be directly deduced. Especially in the case of Mars, atmospheric models have improved substantially over the last years due to data from several space missions. Nevertheless these data are selective and from limited altitude regions of Mars. Additional observations from other (mostly higher) atmospheric regions are necessary to constrain and validate models and support the interpretation of lower resolution data. Heterodyne measurements can provide complimentary information like upper atmosphere winds or vertical gas abundance profiles thus leading to an improved understanding of the Martian atmosphere including, on the side, a look at Mars as an exo-planet prototype. The proposed work will also include efforts in education and public outreach specifically aimed at children.