Examinando por Autor "Montmessin, F."

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Acceso Abierto
A stringent upper limit of 20 pptv for methane on Mars and constraints on its dispersion outside Gale crater
(EDP Sciences, 2021-07-20) Montmessin, F.; Korablev, O. I.; Trokhimovskiy, A.; Lefèvre, F.; Fedorova, A. A.; Baggio, L.; Irbah, A.; Lacombe, G.; Olsen, K. S.; Braude, A. S.; Belyaev, D. A.; Alday, J.; Forget, F.; Daerden, F.; Pla García, J.; Rafkin, Scot C. R.; Wilson, T. F.; Patrakeev, A.; Shakun, A.; Bertaux, J. L.; Agence Nationale de la Recherche (ANR); Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada (NSERC); UK Space Agency; Science and Technology Facilities Council (STFC); Montmessin, F. [0000-0002-4187-1457]; Korablev, O. I. [0000-0003-1115-0656]; Trokhimovskiy, A. [0000-0003-4041-4972]; Lefèvre, F. [0000-0001-5294-5426]; Fedorova, A. A. [0000-0002-4176-2955]; Baggio, L. [0000-0002-9263-4937]; Irbah, A. [0000-0003-3265-3148]; Olsen, K. S. [0000-0002-2173-9889]; Braude, A. M. [0000-0003-2437-2151]; Belyaev, D. A. [0000-0003-1123-5983]; Alday, J. [0000-0003-1459-3444]; Forget, F. [0000-0002-3262-4366]; Pla García, J. [0000-0002-8047-3937]; Rafkin, S. [0000-0001-7464-1319]
Context. Reports on the detection of methane in the Martian atmosphere have motivated numerous studies aiming to confirm or explain its presence on a planet where it might imply a biogenic or more likely a geophysical origin. Aims. Our intent is to complement and improve on the previously reported detection attempts by the Atmospheric Chemistry Suite (ACS) on board the ExoMars Trace Gas Orbiter (TGO). This latter study reported the results of a campaign that was a few months in length, and was significantly hindered by a dusty period that impaired detection performances. Methods. We unveil 640 solar occultation measurements gathering 1.44 Martian years worth of data produced by the ACS. Results. No methane was detected. Probing the clear northern summer season allowed us to reach 1σ upper limits of around 10 pptv (20 pptv at 2σ), with an annual mean of the smallest upper limits of 20 pptv. Upper limits are controlled by the amount of dust in the atmosphere, which impairs detection performance around the equator and during the southern spring and summer seasons. Observations performed near Gale crater yielded 1σ upper limits of up to four times less than the background values measured by the Curiosity rover during the corresponding seasons. Conclusions. Reconciliation of the absence of methane in the TGO spectra with the positive detections by Curiosity is even more difficult in light of this annual survey performed by ACS. Stronger constraints are placed on the physical and chemical mechanism capable of explaining why the mean of the best overall upper limits of ACS is ten times below the smallest methane abundances measured by Curiosity.
Acceso Abierto
Decline in Water Ice Abundance in the Martian Mesosphere during Aphelion
(Europlanet, 2024-07-03) Toledo, D.; Rannou, P.; Apéstigue, Víctor; Rodríguez Veloso, Raúl; Arruego, I.; Martínez, Germán M.; Tamppari, L. K.; Munguira, A.; Lorenz, Ralph; Stcherbinine, Aurélien; Montmessin, F.; Sánchez Lavega, Agustín; Patel, P.; Viúdez Moreiras, Daniel; Hueso, R.; Bertrand, T.; Pla García, J.; Yela González, Margarita; De la Torre Juárez, M.; Rodríguez Manfredi, J. A.
Clouds play a crucial role in the past and current climate of Mars. Cloud particles impact the planet's energy balance and atmospheric dynamics, as well as influence the vertical distribution of dust particles through dust scavenging. This process of dust scavenging by clouds has significant consequences for the planet's water cycle. For example, regions in the atmosphere with insufficient quantities of dust particles, or condensation nuclei, can inhibit the formation of H2O clouds, leading to the presence of water vapor in excess of saturation [1]. Recent observations made by the MEDA Radiation and Dust Sensor (RDS) [2,3] have shown a marked decline in mesospheric cloud activity (above 35-40 km) when Mars is near its aphelion (within the Aphelion Cloud Belt-ACB season), notably occurring during solar longitudes (Ls) between Ls 70° and 80° [4] (see Figure 1). In order to investigate the possible factors leading to this decrease in water ice abundance, we used a one-dimensional cloud microphysical model [5,6], which includes the processes of nucleation, condensation, coagulation, evaporation, precipitation, and coalescence, and where the vertical mixing is parameterized using an eddy diffusion profile (Keddy). Combining cloud microphysics modeling with ground-based (Mars 2020 and InSight) and orbital observations (TGO and MRO) of clouds, water vapor, and temperature, we will discuss in this presentation the main factors controlling the water abundance in the Martian mesosphere during the ACB season.
Acceso Abierto
Drying of the Martian mesosphere during aphelion induced by lower temperatures
(Springer Nature, 2024-11-20) Toledo, D.; Rannou, P.; Apéstigue, Víctor; Rodríguez Veloso, Raúl; Rodríguez Manfredi, J. A.; Arruego, Ignacio; Martínez, Germán M.; Tamppari, L. K.; Munguira, A.; Lorenz, Ralph; Stcherbinine, Aurélien; Montmessin, F.; Sánchez Lavega, Agustín; Patel, P.; Smith, Michael D.; Lemmon, M. T.; Vicente Retortillo, Álvaro; Newman, C. E.; Viúdez Moreiras, Daniel; Hueso, R.; Bertrand, T.; Pla García, J.; Yela González, Margarita; De la Torre Juárez, M.; Ministerio de Ciencia e Innovación (MICINN); Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL); National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA); Gobierno Vasco; Agencia Estatal de Investigación (AEI); Unidad de Excelencia Científica María de Maeztu Instituto de Astrofísica de Cantabria, MDM-2017-0765
The formation of water ice clouds or hazes on Mars imposes substantial limitations on the vertical transport of water into the middle-upper atmosphere, impacting the planet’s hydrogen loss. Recent observations made by the Mars Environmental Dynamics Analyzer instrument onboard Mars 2020 Perseverance rover have shown a marked decline in water ice abundance within the mesosphere (above 35-40 km) when Mars is near its aphelion (near the northern summer solstice), notably occurring during solar longitudes (Ls) between Ls 70∘ and 80∘. Orbital observations around the same latitudes indicate that temperatures between ~ 30-40 km reach a minimum during the same period. Using cloud microphysics simulations, we demonstrate that this decrease in temperature effectively increases the amount of water cold-trapped at those altitudes, confining water ice condensation to lower altitudes. Similarly, the reinforcement of the cold trap induced by the lower temperatures results in significant reductions in the water vapor mixing ratio above 35–40 km, explaining the confinement of water vapor observed around aphelion from orbiters.
Acceso Abierto
Hexagonal Prisms Form in Water-Ice Clouds on Mars, Producing Halo Displays Seen by Perseverance Rover
(AGU Advancing Earth and Space Science, 2022-10-03) Lemmon, M. T.; Toledo, D.; Apéstigue, Víctor; Arruego, Ignacio; Wolff, Michael; Patel, P.; Guzewich, Scott; Colaprete, A.; Vicente Retortillo, Álvaro; Tamppari, L. K.; Montmessin, F.; De la Torre Juárez, M.; Maki, Justin N.; McConnochie, Tim H.; Brown, Adrian Jon; Bell, J. F.; Instituto Nacional de Técnica Aeroespacial (INTA); Ministerio de Ciencia e Innovación (MICINN); NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL); Arizona State University (ASU); Ministerio de Economía y Competitividad (MINECO); Gobierno Vasco; European Research Council (ERC); Centro de Astrobiología del Instituto Nacional de Técnica Aeroespacial y CSIC, MDM-2017-0737
Observations by several cameras on the Perseverance rover showed a 22° scattering halo around the Sun over several hours during northern midsummer (solar longitude 142°). Such a halo has not previously been seen beyond Earth. The halo occurred during the aphelion cloud belt season and the cloudiest time yet observed from the Perseverance site. The halo required crystalline water-ice cloud particles in the form of hexagonal columns large enough for refraction to be significant, at least 11 μm in diameter and length. From a possible 40–50 km altitude, and over the 3.3 hr duration of the halo, particles could have fallen 3–12 km, causing downward transport of water and dust. Halo-forming clouds are likely rare due to the high supersaturation of water that is required but may be more common in northern subtropical regions during northern midsummer.
Restringido
The DREAMS experiment flown on the ExoMars 2016 mission for the study of Martian environment during the dust storm season
(Elsevier, 2018-02-01) Bettanini, C.; Esposito, F.; Debei, S.; Molfese, C.; Colombatti, G.; Aboudan, A.; Brucato, J. R.; Cortecchia, F.; Di Achille, G.; Guizzo, G. P.; Friso, Enrico; Ferri, F.; Marty, Laurent; Mennella, V.; Molinaro, R.; Schipani, P.; Silvestro, S.; Mugnuolo, R.; Pirrotta, S.; Marchetti, Edoardo; Ari-Matti, H.; Montmessin, F.; Wilson, Colin; Arruego, I.; Abbaki. S.; Apéstigue, V.; Bellucci, G.; Berthelier, J. J.; Calcutt, S.; Forget, F.; Genzer, María; Gilbert, Pierre; Haukka, H.; Jiménez Martín, Juan José; Jiménez, Salvador; Josset, J. L.; Karatekin, Özgür; Landis, G.; Lorenz, Ralph; Martínez Oter, J.; Möhlmann, D.; Moirin, D.; Palomba, E.; Patel, M.; Pommereau, J. P.; Popa, C. I.; Rafkin, Scot C. R.; Rannou, P.; Rennó, N. O.; Schmidt, Walter; Simoes, F.; Spiga, A.; Valero, F.; Vázquez, L.; Apéstigue, Víctor; Agenzia Spaziale Italiana (ASI); Istituto Nazionale di Astrofisica (INAF)
"The DREAMS (Dust characterization, Risk assessment and Environment Analyser on the Martian Surface) instrument on Schiaparelli lander of ExoMars 2016 mission was an autonomous meteorological station designed to completely characterize the Martian atmosphere on surface, acquiring data not only on temperature, pressure, humidity, wind speed and its direction, but also on solar irradiance, dust opacity and atmospheric electrification; this comprehensive set of parameters would assist the quantification of risks and hazards for future manned exploration missions mainly related to the presence of airborne dust. Schiaparelli landing on Mars was in fact scheduled during the foreseen dust storm season (October 2016 in Meridiani Planum) allowing DREAMS to directly measure the characteristics of such extremely harsh environment. DREAMS instrument’s architecture was based on a modular design developing custom boards for analog and digital channel conditioning, power distribution, on board data handling and communication with the lander. The boards, connected through a common backbone, were hosted in a central electronic unit assembly and connected to the external sensors with dedicated harness. Designed with very limited mass and an optimized energy consumption, DREAMS was successfully tested to operate autonomously, relying on its own power supply, for at least two Martian days (sols) after landing on the planet. A total of three flight models were fully qualified before launch through an extensive test campaign comprising electrical and functional testing, EMC verification and mechanical and thermal vacuum cycling; furthermore following the requirements for planetary protection, contamination control activities and assay sampling were conducted before model delivery for final integration on spacecraft. During the six months cruise to Mars following the successful launch of ExoMars on 14th March 2016, periodic check outs were conducted to verify instrument health check and update mission timelines for operation. Elaboration of housekeeping data showed that the behaviour of the whole instrument was nominal during the whole cruise. Unfortunately DREAMS was not able to operate on the surface of Mars, due to the known guidance anomaly during the descent that caused Schiaparelli to crash at landing. The adverse sequence of events at 4 km altitude anyway triggered the transition of the lander in surface operative mode, commanding switch on the DREAMS instrument, which was therefore able to correctly power on and send back housekeeping data. This proved the nominal performance of all DREAMS hardware before touchdown demonstrating the highest TRL of the unit for future missions. The spare models of DREAMS are currently in use at university premises for the development of autonomous units to be used in cubesat mission and in probes for stratospheric balloons launches in collaboration with Italian Space Agency."
Acceso Abierto
The dynamic atmospheric and aeolian environment of Jezero crater, Mars
(Science Publishin Group, 2022-05-25) Newman, C. E.; Hueso, R.; Lemmon, M. T.; Munguira, A.; Vicente Retortillo, Álvaro; Apéstigue, Víctor; Martínez, Germán M.; Toledo, D.; Sullivan, Robert; Herkenhoff, K. E.; De la Torre Juárez, M.; Richardson, M. I.; Stott, A.; Murdoch, N.; Sánchez Lavega, Agustín; Wolff, Michael; Arruego, I.; Sebastián, E.; Navarro López, Sara; Gómez Elvira, J.; Tamppari, L. K.; Smith, Michael D.; Lepinette Malvitte, A.; Viúdez Moreiras, Daniel; Harri, Ari-Matti; Genzer, María; Hieta, M.; Lorenz, R. D.; Conrad, Pamela G.; Gómez, Felipe; McConnochie, Tim H.; Mimoun, D.; Tate, C.; Bertrand, T.; Belli, J. F.; Maki, Justin N.; Rodríguez Manfredi, J. A.; Wiens, R. C.; Chide, B.; Maurice, S.; Zorzano, María-Paz; Mora Sotomayor, L.; Baker, M. M.; Banfield, D.; Pla García, J.; Beyssac, O.; Brown, Adrian Jon; Clark, B.; Montmessin, F.; Fischer, E.; Patel, P.; Del Río Gaztelurrutia, T.; Fouchet, T.; Francis, R.; Guzewich, Scott; Instituto Nacional de Técnica Aeroespacial (INTA); Ministerio de Ciencia e Innovación (MICINN); Ministerio de Economía y Competitividad (MINECO); Agencia Estatal de Investigación (AEI); Gobierno Vasco; National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA); Centro de Astrobiología del Instituto Nacional de Técnica Aeroespacial y CSIC, MDM-2017-0737
Despite the importance of sand and dust to Mars geomorphology, weather, and exploration, the processes that move sand and that raise dust to maintain Mars’ ubiquitous dust haze and to produce dust storms have not been well quantified in situ, with missions lacking either the necessary sensors or a sufficiently active aeolian environment. Perseverance rover’s novel environmental sensors and Jezero crater’s dusty environment remedy this. In Perseverance’s first 216 sols, four convective vortices raised dust locally, while, on average, four passed the rover daily, over 25% of which were significantly dusty (“dust devils”). More rarely, dust lifting by nonvortex wind gusts was produced by daytime convection cells advected over the crater by strong regional daytime upslope winds, which also control aeolian surface features. One such event covered 10 times more area than the largest dust devil, suggesting that dust devils and wind gusts could raise equal amounts of dust under nonstorm conditions.