Sensitivities of a Coupled Dust and Water Cycle on Mars

Steven Nelli

Modeling of the water cycle is important in aiding our interpretation of observed data. With computers only recently reaching the computing capability to handle long duration runs with a coupled water and dust cycle, few papers have been published on a fully coupled water and dust cycle. In particular, sensitivity studies on how one cycle affects the other has yet to be undertaken.

The objective of this project is to use the NASA Ames Research Center (ARC) general circulation model (GCM) to determine the sensitivity of the water and dust cycle when coupled to each other. This project studies the annual and interannual variability of one cycle (water/dust) due to perturbations in the other (dust/water). Through the interaction of cloud formation, changes in the source and sink of both aerosols are studied. This project also analyzes the changes in the horizontal and vertical distribution of both aerosols and how these changes lead to interannual variability within the model. This project pursues NASA's current scientific interest and Martian directive of Follow the Water by providing interpretation of current observations.