Persona:
Vicente Retortillo, Álvaro

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Centro de Astrobiologia
El Centro de Astrobiología (CAB) es un centro mixto de investigación en astrobiología, dependiente tanto del Instituto Nacional de Técnica Aeroespacial (INTA) como del Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas (CSIC).

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Vicente Retortillo

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Álvaro

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Mostrando 1 - 10 de 19
  • PublicaciónAcceso 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.
  • PublicaciónAcceso 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.
  • PublicaciónAcceso Abierto
    In Situ UV Measurements by MSL/REMS: Dust Deposition and Angular Response Corrections
    (Springer Link, 2020-07-21) Vicente Retortillo, Álvaro; Martínez, Germán M.; Rennó, N. O.; Lemmon, M. T.; De la Torre Juárez, M.; Gómez Elvira, J.; NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL); Retortillo, A. V. [0000-0002-4553-7624]; Gómez Elvira, J. [0000-0002-9068-9846]; Unidad de Excelencia Científica María de Maeztu Centro de Astrobiología del Instituto Nacional de Técnica Aeroespacial y CSIC, MDM-2017-0737
    Measurements by the REMS/UV sensor onboard the MSL Curiosity rover constitute the first in situ dataset of UV radiation flux at the surface of Mars. Due to its position on the Curiosity deck, the UV sensor has been directly exposed to dust deposition. Inaccuracies in the original angular response calibration functions have led to discrepancies between measured and physically-expected UV fluxes when the solar zenith angle (theta) relative to the rover frame is between 20 degrees and 55 degrees. Here we present a methodology to correct UV fluxes when theta < 55 degrees for both effects, and show results of the corrected data set for the first 2003 sols (similar to 3 Martian Years, MY) of the MSL mission, from L-s similar to 151 degrees in MY 31 to L-s similar to 149 degrees in MY 34. Close to noon, when. values are typically < 30 degrees, relative differences between corrected and original UV fluxes are similar to 35 - 40% on average. Outside hours close to noon, when theta is typically > 30 degrees, relative differences are greater than 100%. Measurements acquired when 20 degrees < theta < 55 degrees represent similar to 45% of the whole dataset with theta < 90 degrees. UV fluxes generated in this study are available in the NASA Planetary Data System (https://atmos.nmsu.edu/PDS/data/mslrem_1001/DATA_UV_CORRECTED/), and are important to study the effect of UV radiation on the variability of atmospheric constituents, to recreate accurate UV doses for biological laboratory experiments, to perform combined analyses of satellite and ground-based measurements, and to allow comparisons of the UV radiation environment at different locations with the upcoming ExoMars 2020 and Mars 2020 missions.
  • PublicaciónAcceso Abierto
    Mars 2020 Perseverance Rover Studies of the Martian Atmosphere Over Jezero From Pressure Measurements
    (AGU Advancing Earth and Space Science, 2022-11-01) Sánchez Lavega, Agustín; Del Río Gaztelurrutia, T.; Hueso, R.; De la Torre Juárez, M.; Martínez, Germán M.; Harri, Ari-Matti; Genzer, María; Hieta, M.; Polkko, J.; Rodríguez Manfredi, J. A.; Lemmon, M. T.; Pla García, J.; Toledo, D.; Vicente Retortillo, Álvaro; Viúdez Moreiras, Daniel; Munguira, A.; Tamppari, L. K.; Newman, C. E.; Gómez Elvira, J.; Guzewich, Scott; Bertrand, T.; Apéstigue, Víctor; Arruego, Ignacio; Wolff, Michael; Banfield, D.; Jaakonaho, I.; Mäkinen, T.; Instituto Nacional de Técnica Aeroespacial (INTA); Ministerio de Ciencia e Innovación (MICINN); National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA); Universities Space Research Association (USRA); Gobierno Vasco; Centro de Astrobiología del Instituto Nacional de Técnica Aeroespacial y CSIC, MDM-2017-0737
    The pressure sensors on Mars rover Perseverance measure the pressure field in the Jezero crater on regular hourly basis starting in sol 15 after landing. The present study extends up to sol 460 encompassing the range of solar longitudes from Ls ∼ 13°–241° (Martian Year (MY) 36). The data show the changing daily pressure cycle, the sol-to-sol seasonal evolution of the mean pressure field driven by the CO2 sublimation and deposition cycle at the poles, the characterization of up to six components of the atmospheric tides and their relationship to dust content in the atmosphere. They also show the presence of wave disturbances with periods 2–5 sols, exploring their baroclinic nature, short period oscillations (mainly at night-time) in the range 8–24 min that we interpret as internal gravity waves, transient pressure drops with duration ∼1–150 s produced by vortices, and rapid turbulent fluctuations. We also analyze the effects on pressure measurements produced by a regional dust storm over Jezero at Ls ∼ 155°.
  • PublicaciónAcceso 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.
  • PublicaciónAcceso Abierto
    Meteorological Predictions for Mars 2020 Perseverance Rover Landing Site at Jezero Crater
    (Springer Link, 2020-12-14) Pla García, J.; Rafkin, Scot C. R.; Martínez, G. M.; Vicente Retortillo, Álvaro; Newman, C. E.; Rodríguez Manfredi, J. A.; Gómez, Felipe; Molina, A.; Viúdez Moreiras, Daniel; Harri, Ari-Matti; Agencia Estatal de Investigación (AEI); Unidad de Excelencia Científica María de Maeztu Centro de Astrobiología del Instituto Nacional de Técnica Aeroespacial y CSIC, MDM-2017-0737
    The Mars Regional Atmospheric Modeling System (MRAMS) and a nested simulation of the Mars Weather Research and Forecasting model (MarsWRF) are used to predict the local meteorological conditions at the Mars 2020 Perseverance rover landing site inside Jezero crater (Mars). These predictions are complemented with the COmplutense and MIchigan MArs Radiative Transfer model (COMIMART) and with the local Single Column Model (SCM) to further refine predictions of radiative forcing and the water cycle respectively. The primary objective is to facilitate interpretation of the meteorological measurements to be obtained by the Mars Environmental Dynamics Analyzer (MEDA) aboard the rover, but also to provide predictions of the meteorological phenomena and seasonal changes that might impact operations, from both a risk perspective and from the perspective of being better prepared to make certain measurements. A full diurnal cycle at four different seasons (L-s 0 degrees, 90 degrees, 180 degrees, and 270 degrees) is investigated. Air and ground temperatures, pressure, wind speed and direction, surface radiative fluxes and moisture data are modeled. The good agreement between observations and modeling in prior works [Pla-Garcia et al. in Icarus 280:103-113, 2016; Newman et al. in Icarus 291:203-231, 2017; Vicente-Retortillo et al. in Sci. Rep. 8(1):1-8, 2018; Savijarvi et al. in Icarus, 2020] provides confidence in utilizing these models results to predict the meteorological environment at Mars 2020 Perseverance rover landing site inside Jezero crater. The data returned by MEDA will determine the extent to which this confidence was justified.
  • PublicaciónAcceso Abierto
    Dust, Sand, and Winds Within an Active Martian Storm in Jezero Crater
    (AGU Advancing Earth and Space Science, 2022-11-16) Lemmon, M. T.; Smith, Michael D.; Viúdez Moreiras, Daniel; De la Torre Juárez, M.; Vicente Retortillo, Álvaro; Munguira, A.; Sánchez Lavega, Agustín; Hueso, R.; Martínez, Germán M.; Chide, B.; Sullivan, Robert; Toledo, D.; Tamppari, L. K.; Bertrand, T.; Bell, J. F.; Newman, C. E.; Baker, M.; Banfield, D.; Rodríguez Manfredi, J. A.; Maki, Justin N.; Apéstigue, Víctor; Instituto Nacional de Técnica Aeroespacial (INTA); Ministerio de Ciencia e Innovación (MICINN); Ministerio de Economía y Competitividad (MINECO); NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL); Arizona State University (ASU); European Research Council (ERC); Agencia Estatal de Investigación (AEI); Centro de Astrobiología del Instituto Nacional de Técnica Aeroespacial y CSIC, MDM-2017-0737
    Rovers and landers on Mars have experienced local, regional, and planetary-scale dust storms. However, in situ documentation of active lifting within storms has remained elusive. Over 5–11 January 2022 (LS 153°–156°), a dust storm passed over the Perseverance rover site. Peak visible optical depth was ∼2, and visibility across the crater was briefly reduced. Pressure amplitudes and temperatures responded to the storm. Winds up to 20 m s−1 rotated around the site before the wind sensor was damaged. The rover imaged 21 dust-lifting events—gusts and dust devils—in one 25-min period, and at least three events mobilized sediment near the rover. Rover tracks and drill cuttings were extensively modified, and debris was moved onto the rover deck. Migration of small ripples was seen, but there was no large-scale change in undisturbed areas. This work presents an overview of observations and initial results from the study of the storm.
  • PublicaciónAcceso Abierto
    The diverse meteorology of Jezero crater over the first 250 sols of Perseverance on Mars
    (Nature Publishing Group, 2023-01-09) Rodríguez Manfredi, J. A.; De la Torre Juárez, M.; Sánchez Lavega, Agustín; Hueso, R.; Martínez, Germán M.; Lemmon, M. T.; Newman, C. E.; Munguira, A.; Hieta, M.; Tamppari, L. K.; Polkko, J.; Toledo, D.; Sebastian, D.; Smith, Michael D.; Jaakonaho, I.; Genzer, María; Vicente Retortillo, Álvaro; Viúdez Moreiras, Daniel; Ramos, Miguel; Saiz López, A.; Lepinette Malvitte, A.; Wolff, Michael; Sullivan, R. J.; Gómez Elvira, J.; Apéstigue, Víctor; Conrad, P.; Del Río Gaztelurrutia, T.; Murdoch, N.; Arruego, Ignacio; Banfield, D.; Boland, J.; Brown, Adrian Jon; Ceballos Cáceres, J.; Domínguez Pumar, M.; Espejo, S.; Fairén, A.; Ferrándiz Guibelalde, Ricardo; Fischer, E.; García Villadangos, M.; Giménez Torregrosa, S.; Gómez Gómez, F.; Guzewich, Scott; Harri, Ari-Matti; Jiménez Martín, Juan José; Jiménez, V.; Makinen, Terhi; Marín Jiménez, M.; Martín Rubio, C.; Martín Soler, J.; Molina, A.; Mora Sotomayor, L.; Navarro López, Sara; Peinado, V.; Pérez Grande, I.; Pla García, J.; Postigo, M.; Prieto-Ballesteros, Olga; Rafkin, Scot C. R.; Richardson, M. I.; Romeral, J.; Romero Guzmán, Catalina; Savijärvi, H.; Schofield, J. T.; Torres, J.; Urquí, R.; Zurita, S.; NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL); National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA); Instituto Nacional de Técnica Aeroespacial (INTA); European Commission (EC); Ministerio de Economía y Competitividad (MINECO); Agencia Estatal de Investigación (AEI); California Institute of Technology (CIT); Centro de Astrobiología del Instituto Nacional de Técnica Aeroespacial y CSIC, MDM-2017-0737
    NASA’s Perseverance rover’s Mars Environmental Dynamics Analyzer is collecting data at Jezero crater, characterizing the physical processes in the lowest layer of the Martian atmosphere. Here we present measurements from the instrument’s first 250 sols of operation, revealing a spatially and temporally variable meteorology at Jezero. We find that temperature measurements at four heights capture the response of the atmospheric surface layer to multiple phenomena. We observe the transition from a stable night-time thermal inversion to a daytime, highly turbulent convective regime, with large vertical thermal gradients. Measurement of multiple daily optical depths suggests aerosol concentrations are higher in the morning than in the afternoon. Measured wind patterns are driven mainly by local topography, with a small contribution from regional winds. Daily and seasonal variability of relative humidity shows a complex hydrologic cycle. These observations suggest that changes in some local surface properties, such as surface albedo and thermal inertia, play an influential role. On a larger scale, surface pressure measurements show typical signatures of gravity waves and baroclinic eddies in a part of the seasonal cycle previously characterized as low wave activity. These observations, both com
  • PublicaciónAcceso Abierto
    In-flight calibration of the MEDA-TIRS instrument onboard NASA's Mars2020 mission
    (Elsevier, 2024-11-09) Sebastián, E.; Martínez, Germán M.; Ramos, Miguel; Smith, Michael D.; Peinado, V.; Mora Sotomayor, L.; Lemmon, M. T.; Vicente Retortillo, Álvaro; de Lucas Veguillas, Javier; Ferrándiz, Ricardo; Rodríguez Manfredi, J. A.
    This article describes a novel procedure and algorithm used for the in-flight calibration of the Thermal Infrared Sensor (TIRS) onboard the Mars 2020 mission. The purpose is to recalibrate the responsivity of TIRS’ IR detectors as they degrade following surface operations and exposure to harsh environmental conditions. Using data from in-flight calibration campaigns conducted through sol 800 of this mission, we report the time evolution of the responsivity for the different IR detectors, as well as the final performance achieved by the algorithm in the real operating environment. Moreover, we analyzed changes in responsivity as a function of TIRS geometric design and environmental factors, e.g., detector orientation, direct exposure to prevailing winds and solar radiation, electrostatic properties of the detector filter, and atmospheric dust concentration. We concluded that dust deposition on the detectors' filter during landing, and later during operation is the most likely cause of the degradation observed in the various channels, with gravitational sedimentation and the capacity of the filters to accumulate electrostatic charge being key factors. The relative and absolute degradation of the TIRS is similar to those reported by other Martian missions and instruments with similar orientations, and to date, it has shown no signs of cleaning after more than a year on the surface of Mars. Accounting for changes in responsivity during the mission is critical to maintaining the reliability of TIRS measurements, which will later be made available in NASA's Planetary Data System for the benefit of the scientific community.
  • PublicaciónRestringido
    Background levels of methane in Mars’ atmosphere show strong seasonal variations
    (Science, 2018-06-08) Webster, Christopher R.; Mahaffy, Paul R.; Atreya, Sushil K.; Moores, John E.; Flesch, Gregory J.; Malespin, Charles A.; McKay, Christopher P.; Martínez, Germán M.; Smith, Christina L.; Martín Torres, Javier; Gómez Elvira, J.; Zorzano, María-Paz; Wong, Michael H.; Trainer, Melissa G.; Steele, Andrew; Archer, Doug; Sutter, Brad; Coll, Patrice J.; Freissinet, Caroline; Meslin, Pierre-Yves; Gough, Raina V.; House, Christopher H.; Pavlov, Alexander; Eigenbrode, Jennifer L.; Glavin, Daniel P.; Pearson, John C.; Keymeulen, Didier; Christensen, Lance E.; Schwenzer, Susanne P.; Navarro González, R.; Pla García, J.; Rafkin, Scot C. R.; Vicente Retortillo, Álvaro; Kahanpää, H.; Viúdez Moreiras, Daniel; Smith, Michael D.; Harri, Ari-Matti; Genzer, María; Hassler, Donald M.; Lemmon, M. T.; Crisp, Joy; Sander, Stanley P.; Zurek, Richard W.; Vasavada, Ashwin R.; National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA)
    Variable levels of methane in the martian atmosphere have eluded explanation partly because the measurements are not repeatable in time or location. We report in situ measurements at Gale crater made over a 5-year period by the Tunable Laser Spectrometer on the Curiosity rover. The background levels of methane have a mean value 0.41 ± 0.16 parts per billion by volume (ppbv) (95% confidence interval) and exhibit a strong, repeatable seasonal variation (0.24 to 0.65 ppbv). This variation is greater than that predicted from either ultraviolet degradation of impact-delivered organics on the surface or from the annual surface pressure cycle. The large seasonal variation in the background and occurrences of higher temporary spikes (~7 ppbv) are consistent with small localized sources of methane released from martian surface or subsurface reservoirs.