Related Experiment Video
Updated: May 12, 2026
06:27
Measurement of Aerosols Optical Thickness of the Atmosphere using the GLOBE Handheld Sun Photometer
Published on: May 29, 2019
Inter-comparison of Mars Upper Atmosphere Neutral Density and Temperature Datasets from MAVEN.
Nicholas Jones1, J Scott Evans2, Sumedha Gupta1
1Laboratory for Atmospheric and Space Physics, University of Colorado Boulder, 1234 Innovation Dr., Boulder, 80303 CO USA.
Space Science Reviews
|May 11, 2026
Summary
NASA
Area of Science:
- Planetary Science
- Atmospheric Science
- Aeronomy
Background:
- NASA's Mars Atmosphere and Volatile EvolutioN (MAVEN) spacecraft employs multiple instruments to study the Martian upper atmosphere.
- Instruments like NGIMS, IUVS, and EUVM provide data on carbon dioxide (CO2) density and neutral atmospheric temperature.
Purpose of the Study:
- To systematically compare datasets from different MAVEN instruments.
- To identify discrepancies and develop methods to reconcile biases between datasets for comprehensive analysis of the Mars upper atmosphere.
Main Methods:
- Performed pairwise comparisons of datasets from NGIMS, IUVS, and EUVM.
- Binned data by geophysical and forcing parameters to identify systematic differences.
- Developed adjustment factors to harmonize CO2 density and neutral temperature measurements.
Main Results:
- Quantified differences between datasets from various MAVEN instruments.
- Derived adjustment factors to reconcile CO2 density and neutral temperature measurements.
- These factors enable data harmonization across different instruments.
Conclusions:
- The study provides crucial adjustment factors for integrating MAVEN datasets.
- Facilitates a more unified and accurate understanding of the Martian upper atmosphere.
- The findings are intended for broad use by the Mars aeronomy research community.
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