Surface Energy Fluxes and Temperatures at Jezero Crater, Mars

Diurnal ground surface and air temperatures (T-g, T-a) and the five major surface energy budget fluxes are displayed as derived from M2020 mission observations and from column model simulations in two extreme cases (low and high diurnal T-g-variation) along the Perseverance rover track in the Jezero crater. In both cases the fluxes and T-g are well modeled when using diurnally variable apparent ground thermal inertia I derived via a Fourier series method from the hourly observations. Hence the measurements, the diagnostic method and the model results are consistent with high- and low-I nonhomogeneous terrain in the field-of-view (FOV) of the thermal infrared and solar sensors. In contrast less extreme values of I consistent with THEMIS retrievals are necessary for good simulations of observed T-a. We deduce that the measured T-g for the small similar to 3 m(2) FOV may not always be representative for the larger region around the rover, which controls the near-surface atmospheric temperature profile.

Automated summary

Based on the M2020 mission observations and simulations, the diurnal ground surface and air temperatures, as well as the five major surface energy budget fluxes, were well modeled using diurnally variable apparent ground thermal inertia derived from hourly observations. The measurements, diagnostic method, and model results are consistent with the nonhomogeneous terrain in the field-of-view of the thermal infrared and solar sensors. However, the simulations of observed air temperatures require less extreme values of apparent ground thermal inertia consistent with THEMIS retrievals. Therefore, the measured ground temperature for the small FOV may not always represent the larger region controlling the near-surface atmospheric temperature profile around the rover.