Note to users. If you're seeing this message, it means that your browser cannot find this page's style/presentation instructions -- or possibly that you are using a browser that does not support current Web standards. Find out more about why this message is appearing, and what you can do to make your experience of our site the best it can be.

Science 4 February 1977:
Vol. 195. no. 4277, pp. 485 - 486
DOI: 10.1126/science.195.4277.485
Prev | Table of Contents | Next

Articles

Occultation of egr Geminorum by Mars: Evidence for Atmospheric Tides?

J. L. ELLIOT 1, R. G. FRENCH 1, E. DUNHAM 1, P. J. GIERASCH 1, J. VEVERKA 1, C. CHURCH 1, and CARL SAGAN 1

1 Laboratory for Planetary Studies, Cornell University, Ithaca, New York 14853

Temperature profiles of the martian atmosphere have been derived from airborne observations of the 8 April 1976 occultation of egr Geminorum. Within the altitude range from 50 to 90 kilometers, these profiles show peak-to-peak variations of 35°K with a vertical scale of 20 kilometers and represent evidence for strong tides in the martian atmosphere. However, more information is necessary to conclusively rule out a radiative explanation for the temperature variations.

Submitted on September 10, 1976
Revised on October 26, 1976

To Advertise     Find Products

Science. ISSN 0036-8075 (print), 1095-9203 (online)