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Planetary Atmospheres
Researchers studying planetary atmospheres carry out efforts to better understand the composition, weather, and climate on the planets in our solar system. Scientific studies in this area have led to several technology breakthroughs that have supported planetary atmosphere missions to both earth and other planets.
Planetary atmospheres research comprises a quantitative study of the atmospheres of major and minor bodies in the solar system and beyond. Investigations of gases, aerosols, hazes, and clouds apply broadly to global climate on the planets, meteorology and weather prediction, planetary evolution, and astrobiology.
Martian atmospheric dust loading, as seen by the Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter
Areas of Expertise
Core competencies in the area of planetary atmospheric research at JPL include:
Published work covers Venus, Earth, Mars, Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, Neptune, Pluto, outer planetary satellites and planetary rings, surface-bound exospheres, comets, asteroids, brown dwarfs, and interstellar molecular clouds.
Sample Research and Development Effort
Diurnal Dust and Water-Ice Cloud Variability on Mars
A recently funded research and development activity at JPL focuses on exploring the diurnal dust variation of dust opacity and water-ice opacity on Mars. This effort found, among other results, that periods of higher overall dust opacity tend to show a midday increase in dust opacities, but periods of lower dust opacity do not. Additionally, water-ice clouds have a stronger signal further northward at all times of day. Clouds dissipate as the day progresses, likely due to increasing atmospheric temperatures. This study marked the first ever investigation of diurnal dust and water ice behavior in the Martian atmosphere.
These maps show water-ice clouds. Clouds are shown in various shades of blue, with deeper blues indicating a stronger cloud signal.
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