Analysis of new atmospheric dust observations from Mars using global circulation model

该项目提供了直接工作的机会，准备对2016年发射的ESA/RosCosmos痕量气体轨道器（TGO）的数据进行新的分析。同样的技术将用于分析美国宇航局火星勘测轨道器上的火星气候探测仪（MCS）最近和正在进行的火星大气观测。MCS提供了一个现有的数据源，确保从项目一开始就可以获得一些数据，无论TGO任务的状态如何。许多MCS数据尚未得到充分分析，通过这种分析应该可以获得新的结果。首席主管是TGO上MCS和NOMAD仪器的联合研究员，联合主管是NOMAD的联合首席研究员。这确保了与两个团队的直接联系。该项目将采用英国多年来开发的火星大气全球环流模型。它将利用一种称为数据同化的技术，将观测结果与模型相结合，以实现对大气状态的一致的、随时间变化的估计。由于尘埃是火星气候系统的一个重要和可变的组成部分，因此将把注意力集中在大气中的尘埃不透明度上。尘埃既被大气提升又被大气输送，反过来又吸收使大气变暖的辐射。将测试一个将尘埃观测与大气模型结合起来的方案，并为将来使用TGO上的NOMAD和其他仪器做准备。同时，该方案将被验证并用于分析MCS数据。该项目将为改进已经使用的数据同化技术提供空间，或者专注于从现有数据中提取科学分析，并提高我们对火星气候周期的认识。

This project provides the opportunity to work directly on preparing a novel analysis of data from the ESA/RosCosmos Trace Gas Orbiter (TGO), due for launch in 2016. The same techniques will be used in the analysis of recent and ongoing observations of the Martian atmosphere from the Mars Climate Sounder (MCS) aboard NASA Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter. MCS provides an existing source of data, ensuring that some will be available from the start of the project, whatever the state of the TGO mission. Much MCS data has not yet been fully analysed and new results should be obtainable with this analysis. The lead supervisor is a Co-Investigator on both MCS and the NOMAD instrument aboard TGO and the co-supervisor is a Co-Principal Investigator on NOMAD. This ensures direct contact with both teams.The project will employ a global circulation model of the Martian atmosphere, developed over many years in the UK. It will make use of a technique called data assimilation, the combination of observations with the model to achieve a consistent, time-evolving estimate of the atmospheric state. Attention will be focussed on the dust opacity of the atmosphere, since dust is a vital and variable component of the Martian climate system. Dust is both lifted and transported by the atmosphere and, in turn, absorbs radiation warming the atmosphere. A scheme to combine dust observations with the atmospheric model will be tested and prepared for future use with NOMAD and other instruments aboard TGO. At the same time, the scheme will be validated and used to analyse MCS data. The project will allow scope for improving the data assimilation technique already in use, or focussing on the extraction of scientific analyses from existing data and improving our knowledge of the Martian climate cycle.