Introduction:
An additional suite of MTGCM simulations is provided with linkage to the NASA Ames
Mars General Circulation Model (MGCM) for various dust conditions [e.g. Bougher
et al. 1999]. Static dust cases are chosen which incorporate horizontally uniform
and specified vertical dust distributions for integrated visible dust opacities of
0.2 (Northern Summer conditions), 0.3 and 1.0 (Southern Summer conditions).
The MTGCM differences in thermal, compositional, and dynamical features are
striking for globally uniform opacities of 0.3 to 1.0, common to Southern Summer
conditions outside of dust storm events. However, a small opacity case (0.2) yields
meager MTGCM differences from the non-dust case. These MTGCM dust simulations
(Mars Northern Summer and Southern Summer) are meant to provide an example
of possible dust-driven thermal/dynamical effects at thermospheric heights for
comparison to actual Mars thermospheric datasets (see above).