Propagation and Periodicity of Mars's Northern Annular Mode Modulates the Dust Cycle

Abstract We document the propagation of annular modes—zonally symmetric patterns of variability—in Mars's atmosphere using a reanalysis dataset. Mars's Northern Annular Mode (MNAM) sees anomalies of zonal‐mean zonal wind emerge near the subtropics and migrate poleward with a period of ∼150...

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Main Authors: J. Michael Battalio, Juan M. Lora, Sandro W. Lubis, Pedram Hassanzadeh
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Wiley 2025-03-01
Series:Geophysical Research Letters
Subjects:
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1029/2024GL112814
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author J. Michael Battalio
Juan M. Lora
Sandro W. Lubis
Pedram Hassanzadeh
author_facet J. Michael Battalio
Juan M. Lora
Sandro W. Lubis
Pedram Hassanzadeh
author_sort J. Michael Battalio
collection DOAJ
description Abstract We document the propagation of annular modes—zonally symmetric patterns of variability—in Mars's atmosphere using a reanalysis dataset. Mars's Northern Annular Mode (MNAM) sees anomalies of zonal‐mean zonal wind emerge near the subtropics and migrate poleward with a period of ∼150 days, similarly to Earth's Southern Annular Mode. The mechanism of propagation involves the interaction of the two leading empirical orthogonal functions that define the MNAM. Moreover, the propagation encourages alternating bands of surface wind stress to migrate polewards with a 150‐day period. In addition, a 150‐day periodicity in anomalous column dust optical depth most likely emerges in response to extrema of the MNAM. The combination of the impact of the MNAM's internally forced periodicity on the surface wind stress and the seasonal cycle may contribute to the inter‐annual variability of global dust events, as suggested by a Monte Carlo estimate that correctly approximates the observed incidence of global dust events.
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spelling doaj-art-5a7ade17b7284fee8084ead6fe75e36e2025-08-20T03:10:57ZengWileyGeophysical Research Letters0094-82761944-80072025-03-01526n/an/a10.1029/2024GL112814Propagation and Periodicity of Mars's Northern Annular Mode Modulates the Dust CycleJ. Michael Battalio0Juan M. Lora1Sandro W. Lubis2Pedram Hassanzadeh3Department of Earth and Planetary Sciences Yale University New Haven CT USADepartment of Earth and Planetary Sciences Yale University New Haven CT USAPacific Northwest National Laboratory Richland Richland WA USADepartment of the Geophysical Sciences University of Chicago Chicago IL USAAbstract We document the propagation of annular modes—zonally symmetric patterns of variability—in Mars's atmosphere using a reanalysis dataset. Mars's Northern Annular Mode (MNAM) sees anomalies of zonal‐mean zonal wind emerge near the subtropics and migrate poleward with a period of ∼150 days, similarly to Earth's Southern Annular Mode. The mechanism of propagation involves the interaction of the two leading empirical orthogonal functions that define the MNAM. Moreover, the propagation encourages alternating bands of surface wind stress to migrate polewards with a 150‐day period. In addition, a 150‐day periodicity in anomalous column dust optical depth most likely emerges in response to extrema of the MNAM. The combination of the impact of the MNAM's internally forced periodicity on the surface wind stress and the seasonal cycle may contribute to the inter‐annual variability of global dust events, as suggested by a Monte Carlo estimate that correctly approximates the observed incidence of global dust events.https://doi.org/10.1029/2024GL112814Marsclimate dynamicsMars climateMars atmosphere
spellingShingle J. Michael Battalio
Juan M. Lora
Sandro W. Lubis
Pedram Hassanzadeh
Propagation and Periodicity of Mars's Northern Annular Mode Modulates the Dust Cycle
Geophysical Research Letters
Mars
climate dynamics
Mars climate
Mars atmosphere
title Propagation and Periodicity of Mars's Northern Annular Mode Modulates the Dust Cycle
title_full Propagation and Periodicity of Mars's Northern Annular Mode Modulates the Dust Cycle
title_fullStr Propagation and Periodicity of Mars's Northern Annular Mode Modulates the Dust Cycle
title_full_unstemmed Propagation and Periodicity of Mars's Northern Annular Mode Modulates the Dust Cycle
title_short Propagation and Periodicity of Mars's Northern Annular Mode Modulates the Dust Cycle
title_sort propagation and periodicity of mars s northern annular mode modulates the dust cycle
topic Mars
climate dynamics
Mars climate
Mars atmosphere
url https://doi.org/10.1029/2024GL112814
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AT sandrowlubis propagationandperiodicityofmarssnorthernannularmodemodulatesthedustcycle
AT pedramhassanzadeh propagationandperiodicityofmarssnorthernannularmodemodulatesthedustcycle