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Science 5 December 1997:
Vol. 278. no. 5344, pp. 1752 - 1758
DOI: 10.1126/science.278.5344.1752
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Reports

The Mars Pathfinder Atmospheric Structure Investigation/Meteorology (ASI/MET) Experiment

J. T. Schofield, J. R. Barnes, D. Crisp, R. M. Haberle, S. Larsen, J. A. Magalhães, J. R. Murphy, A. Seiff, G. Wilson

The Mars Pathfinder atmospheric structure investigation/meteorology (ASI/MET) experiment measured the vertical density, pressure, and temperature structure of the martian atmosphere from the surface to 160 km, and monitored surface meteorology and climate for 83 sols (1 sol = 1 martian day = 24.7 hours). The atmospheric structure and the weather record are similar to those observed by the Viking 1 lander (VL-1) at the same latitude, altitude, and season 21 years ago, but there are differences related to diurnal effects and the surface properties of the landing site. These include a cold nighttime upper atmosphere; atmospheric temperatures that are 10 to 12 degrees kelvin warmer near the surface; light slope-controlled winds; and dust devils, identified by their pressure, wind, and temperature signatures. The results are consistent with the warm, moderately dusty atmosphere seen by VL-1.

J. T. Schofield and D. Crisp, Jet Propulsion Laboratory, California Institute of Technology, 4800 Oak Grove Drive, Pasadena, CA 91109, USA.
J. R. Barnes, College of Oceanic and Atmospheric Sciences, Oregon State University, Corvallis, OR 97331, USA.
R. M. Haberle, Ames Research Center, Moffett Field, CA 94035-1000, USA.
S. Larsen, Wind Energy and Atmospheric Physics, Risoe National Laboratory, AMV-125, Post Office Box 49, Roskilde, Denmark DK-4000.
J. A. Magalhães, J. R. Murphy, A. Seiff, San Jose State University Foundation, San Jose, CA, and Ames Research Center, Moffett Field, CA 94035-1000, USA.
G. Wilson, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ, and Ames Research Center, Moffett Field, CA 94035-1000, USA.

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