Characterization of a semidiurnal eastward-propagating tide at high northern latitudes with Mars Global Surveyor electron density profiles

Abstract

Apparent phase velocities of zonal structure, estimated from Mars Global Surveyor (MGS) electron density profiles, are used to identify and characterize SE1, the semidiurnal eastward-propagating tide with zonal wave number one, at high northern latitudes during the summer of Mars Year 26. SE1 shows impressive phase stability with altitude, season, and local time. SE1 maintains a presence at amplitudes between 5 and 15% of the zonal mean at 125 ± 10 km altitude for most of the summer season. Further analyses using MGS electron density profiles will contribute to the identification and characterization of nonmigrating tides in the upper atmosphere of Mars.