Convective Vortices on Mars: a Reanalysis of Viking Lander
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چکیده
Introduction: On 7 August 1976 the Viking 2 lander touched down at Utopia Planitia, Mars. Both Viking lander’s primary aim was to look for the presence of organic life on the surface of Mars. The lander also had a comprehensive meteorological package to monitor the martian conditions. The meteorological package included pressure, temperature, and wind sensors, enabling the landers to perform the first detailed in-situ investigation of martian weather. Dust devil tracks were first detected from orbit by Mariner 9, but it wasn’t until Viking that orbital photographs of columnar clouds/dust devils were taken. Possible dust devils/convective vortices were also detected by the Landers meteorological instruments.
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