Scientific innovations from the Mars aerosol optical depth based on satellite data with a temporal resolution of hours

Abstract

The ExoMars Trace Gas Orbiter (TGO), Emirates Mars Mission (EMM), and possible future Mars stationary satellite(s) will provide innovative data products on the optical depth of dust and water ice clouds in the Martian atmosphere with a temporal resolution of hours. The science phase of TGO has begun in April 2018, and the EMM science operation is scheduled to start in 2021. In this work, the relationship between TGO, EMM, and precursor missions/instruments is analyzed based on the obtained data products. This is followed by discussing the foreseen innovation from the latter in the fields of Martian climatology and numerical weather forecasting. [Figure not available: see fulltext.].