Sub‐Hourly Observations of Dust Storm Growth, Lee Waves, and Lyot Crater, by the EMM Camera EXI

Abstract

Abstract We explore a sequence of 13 unique high‐cadence images of a dust storm, from the Emirates Mars Mission (EMM). The Emirates eXploration Imager camera took these images in less than 8 hr on 18 December 2022 (Martian Year 36, solar longitude 356°). Most of these images are separated by a time difference of half an hour. The region of interest extends from Lyot crater to the east. During the morning, the EMM images show lee waves (atmospheric gravity waves). In the late morning, the lee waves rapidly change into clearly distinct dust storm texture/convective features. We track the evolution of both lee waves and a local dust storm between sunrise and mid‐afternoon. Also, we relate our observations to atmospheric dynamics. Our analysis is supported by the Mars Climate Database and radio occultation measurement data.

Keywords

• Emirates Mars Mission
• high‐cadence images
• dust storm
• lee wave
• planetary boundary layer
• dynamics