Abstract
The following physical parameters have been computed from 0 to 200 km altitude; (1) pressure, (2) density (3), speed of sound, (4) density, (5) number density, (6) mean free path, (7) viscosity, (8) pressure scale, (9) mean particle velocity, (10) collisional frequency and (11) columnar mass.
The Viking measurements have been used as input data. A critical comparison of the computed pressures and densities, is given, useful for future explorations.
Article PDF
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Anon, Models of Mars atmosphere (1974) NASA Space Vehicle, Design Criteria (Environment) NASA SP-8010, Revised December 1974.
Anon, Mars Engineering Model, NASA Langley Research Center, Viking Project Office M75-125-1, 1970.
Hess, S. L., Henry, R. M., Leovy, C. B., Ryan, J. A., Tillma, J. E., Chamberlain, T. E., Cole, H. L., Dutton, R. G., Greene, G. C., Simon, W. E., and Mitchell, J. L.: 1976; Preliminary Meteorological Results on Mars from the Viking 1 Lander, Science 193, 788.
James P. B.: 1978, The Clouds of Mars as Seen by Viking; The Mars Reference Atmosphere, Jet Propulsion Laboratory Report, Ed. A. Kliore COSPAR 21 International Congress, Innsbruch.
Macris, C. and Petropoulos, B.: 1977, Variations Saisonières de la pression dans l'Atmosphère de Mars, C.R. Acad. Sciences, Paris 284, 5.
Macris, C. and Petropoulos, B.: 1977, Les paramètres physiques de l'atmosphère de Mars, C.R. Acad. Sciences, Paris 285, 239.
Marov, M. Ya, Karzanovich, V. V., Andreyevsky, V. S., and Rozhdestvensky, M. K.: 1976, Mars 6 Measurements and Model of Mars Atmosphere, Space Research XVI, P. 1019, Ed. Acad. Verlag, Berlin.
Nier, A. O. and Mc Elroy, M. B.: 1977, Composition and Structure of Mars Atmosphere, Results from the Neutral Mass Spectrometers on Viking 1 and Viking 2, J. Geophys. Res. 82, 4341.
Owen, T. and Biermann, K.: 1976, Composition of the Atmosphere at the Surface of Mars, Detection of Argon 36 and Preliminary Analysis, Science 193, 801.
Owen, T., Biermann, K., Rushneck, D. R., Biller, J. E., Howard, D. W., and Latleur, A. L.: 1977, The Composition of the Atmosphere at the Surface of Mars, J. Geophys. Res. 82, 4635.
Pitts, C. E.: A Computer Program for Calculating Model Planetary Atmospheres NASA TND — 4292.
Seiff, A. and Kirk, D. B.: 1977, Structure of the Atmosphere of Mars in Summer at Mid Latitude, J. Geophys. Rev. 30, 4364.
Seiff, A.: 1978, Post-Viking Models for the Structure of the Summer Atmosphere of Mars, The Mars Reference Atmosphere, Jet Propulsion Laboratory Report, A. Kliore (ed.), COSPAR 21st International Congress, Innsbruck.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Petropoulos, B., Macris, C. Physical parameters of the martian atmosphere. Earth Moon Planet 46, 1–30 (1989). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00056296
Received:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00056296