Atmospheric Pressure Variation and the Climate of Mars

Peter J. Gierasch Laboratory for Planetary Studies, Cornell University, Ithaca, N.Y. 14850

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Owen B. Toon Laboratory for Planetary Studies, Cornell University, Ithaca, N.Y. 14850

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Abstract

If Mars has permanent CO2 polar caps, atmospheric heat transport may cause the atmospheric pressure to be extremely sensitive to variations of solar heating at the poles. This could happen because atmospheric heating depends on density, which depends strongly on the polar temperature through the vapor pressure relation. A simple climatological model is used to study the question.

Abstract

If Mars has permanent CO2 polar caps, atmospheric heat transport may cause the atmospheric pressure to be extremely sensitive to variations of solar heating at the poles. This could happen because atmospheric heating depends on density, which depends strongly on the polar temperature through the vapor pressure relation. A simple climatological model is used to study the question.

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