P23B-2143
Analysis of the Phoenix Mission's Thermal and Electrical Conductivity Probe (TECP) Relative Humidity Data

Tuesday, 15 December 2015
Poster Hall (Moscone South)
Erik Fischer1, German Martinez1, Nilton O Renno1, Leslie Tamppari2 and Aaron Zent3, (1)University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, United States, (2)Jet Propulsion Laboratory, Pasadena, CA, United States, (3)NASA Ames Research Center, Moffett Field, CA, United States
Abstract:
With funding from NASA's Mars Data Analysis Program, we plan to enhance the scientific return of the Phoenix mission by producing and archiving high-level relative humidity (RH) data from the measurements made by the Thermal and Electrical Conductivity Probe (TECP). Values of temperature and RH covered in the pre-flight calibration [1] overlap only partially with the environmental conditions found at the Phoenix landing site [2,3]. In particular, there is no overlap at dawn, when temperatures are the lowest and the expected RH is the highest [4] and in the middle of the day, when temperatures are relatively high and the expected RH is very low [5].

Here we plan to produce high-level RH data by calibrating an Engineering Model of the TECP in the Michigan Mars Environmental Chamber (MMEC). The MMEC is capable of simulating the entire range of environmental conditions found at the Phoenix landing site. The MMEC is a cylindrical chamber with internal diameter of 64 cm and length of 160 cm. It is capable of simulating temperatures ranging from 145 to 500 K, CO2 pressures ranging from 10 to 105 Pa, and relative humidity ranging from nearly 0 to 100% [6].

The analysis of high-level RH data has the potential to shed light on the formation of liquid brines at Mars' polar latitudes, where it is most likely to occur [7]. In addition, the RH sensor aboard Curiosity is similar to that on the TECP [8], allowing a direct comparison of the near-surface RH measurements at these two different locations on the surface of Mars.

REFERENCES:

[1] Zent, A. P., et al, 2009, JGR (1991–2012) 114.E3. [2] Tamppari, L. K., et al. 2010, JGR, 115, E00E17. [3] Davy, R., et al., 2010, JGR, 115, E00E13. [4] Whiteway, J., et al., 2009, Science, 325, 68–70. [5] Savijärvi, H., and A. Määttänen, 2010, Q. J. R. Meteorol. Soc., 136, 1497–1505. [6] Fischer, E., et al., 2014, GRL, 41, 4456–4462. [7] Martínez, G., and Rennó, N., 2013, Space Sci. Rev., 175, 29–51. [8] Harri, A‐M., et al., 2014, JGR 119.9: 2132-2147.

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