Baroclinic waves in the northern hemisphere of Mars as observed by the MRO Mars Climate Sounder and the MGS Thermal Emission Spectrometer.

The climatology of baroclinic waves in the northern hemisphere of Mars is investigated through analysis of observations by the infrared sounders on Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter (MRO) and Mars Global Surveyor (MGS). We focus on the lowest scale height above the surface, where the waves have a large impact on the Martian dust cycle. Profiles retrieved by the MRO Mars Climate Sounder (MCS) rarely reach the lower atmosphere at the season and location of interest.

The atmosphere of Pluto as observed by New Horizons.

Observations made during the New Horizons flyby provide a detailed snapshot of the current state of Pluto's atmosphere. Whereas the lower atmosphere (at altitudes of less than 200 kilometers) is consistent with ground-based stellar occultations, the upper atmosphere is much colder and more compact than indicated by pre-encounter models. Molecular nitrogen (N2) dominates the atmosphere (at altitudes of less than 1800 kilometers or so), whereas methane (CH4), acetylene (C2H2), ethylene (C2H4), and ethane (C2H6) are abundant minor species and likely feed the production of an extensive haze that encompasses Pluto.