Martian Clouds

Table of Contents

• Introduction
• Views of Martian Clouds
• References

See Also

• Clouds From Space

Introduction

1. Lee waves. These clouds form in the lee of large obstacles such as mountains, ridges, craters and volcanoes. The air in these regions undergoes wavelike oscillations.
2. Wave clouds. These clouds appear as rows of linear clouds. They are common at the edge of the polar cap.
3. Cloud streets. These clouds exhibit a double periodicity. They appear as linear rows of cumulus-like, bubble-shaped clouds.
4. Streaky clouds. These clouds have a direction without periodicity.
5. Fog or ground hazes. Fog usually occurs in low areas such as valleys, canyons and craters. It forms during the coolest times of the day such as dawn and dusk. Sometimes ground haze is caused by dust in the atmosphere; however, if the atmosphere is clear ground fog can be easily identified.
6. Plumes. These are elongated clouds. They appear to have a source of rising material and in many case are composed of dust particles.

Views of Martian Clouds

Cyclonic Disturbances (GIF, 270K)
Along the edge of the polar cap, cyclonic disturbances are common during the late summer and fall. This storm system is located at the edge of the northern polar cap. In the foreground, frost can be seen as bright areas. (Image Credit: Calvin J. Hamilton, Los Alamos National Laboratory)

Lee Wave (GIF, 250K)
This is a good example of a lee wave associated with an impact crater. Note the wave periodicity in the clouds. (Image Credit: Calvin J. Hamilton, Los Alamos National Laboratory)

Wave Clouds (GIF, 238K)
Wave clouds usually occur at the lee of a large obstacle. They are often found at the edge of the polar cap, and in the Tharsis and Lunae Planum regions. (Image Credit: Calvin J. Hamilton, Los Alamos National Laboratory)

Cloud Streets (GIF, 328K)
The cloud patterns illustrated by this image exhibits a double periodicity. These types of clouds usually occur close to the northern-polar cap and in the Tharsis and Syria Planum regions. (Image Credit: Calvin J. Hamilton, Los Alamos National Laboratory)

Streaky Clouds (GIF, 366K)
Streaky clouds seem to be found most everywhere; however, they seem to be more concentrated in the highlands southwest of Syrtis Major. (Image Credit: Calvin J. Hamilton, Los Alamos National Laboratory)

Fog (GIF, 460K)
Fog often appears in low-lying areas. It typically occurs in the southern hemisphere especially in the Argyre and Hellas basins. It forms frequently in craters. Occasionally, it occurs in higher regions such as Sinus Sabaeus and Solis Planum. (Image Credit: Calvin J. Hamilton, Los Alamos National Laboratory)

Dust Plume (GIF, 154K)
This is an example of a dust plume in the Solis Planum region. This image was taken during the springtime for this region. Plumes are found primarily in the southern hemisphere, in highlands such as Syrtis Major and in elevated regions such as Tharsis. (Image Credit: Calvin J. Hamilton, Los Alamos National Laboratory)

French, Richard et al. "Global Patterns in Cloud Forms on Mars." ICARUS 45, 1981, 32-43.

Carr M. H. The Surface of Mars. Yale University Press, New Haven, 1981. (See Chapter 3, pp. 25-34.)

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Copyright © 1995 by Calvin J. Hamilton. All rights reserved.
Last Modified: June 1, 1995