Interrelationship Between the Dust and Water Cycles in the Martian Atmosphere: Numerical Modeling Studies

A Dissertation Proposal by Steven M. Nelli

Mars is one of the most intriguing planets in our Solar System due to its relative closeness to Earth, its similarity to Earth, and its possibility of both liquid water and life in the past. The water vapor on Mars has been observed both telescopically and by spacecraft. Water vapor abundance has been obtained during two major planetary missions, the Viking Orbiters in the late 1970's with their Mars Atmospheric Water Detector and Mars Global Surveyor from 1997 to present with its Thermal Emission Spectrometer. Modeling of the water cycle is important in aiding our interpretation of observed data. The model to be used for simulations is based on an Earth Global Climate Model (GCM) developed at UCLA, and was adapted to Mars during the 1980s at Ames Research Center. The objective of this project is to use the GCM to determine the role the water cycle plays in interannual variability of the Martian atmosphere when coupled with the dust cycle. After incorporating a viable water cycle into the current Martian global climate model, I propose to connect the water and dust cycles so that they may interact. This numerical modeling exercise is to add knowledge towards the understanding of the occurrence of dust storms and to help aid in their predictability.