See more from this Division: Topical Sessions
See more from this Session: Mineralogic and Petrologic Mapping of Planetary Surfaces: The G.K. Gilbert Award Session
Abstract:
Because surface temperatures are the primary goal, the model uses a one-layer atmosphere but does allow fractional condensation and global pressure variation. The program is designed to compute surface and subsurface temperatures for a global set of latitudes at a full set of seasons, with enough depth to capture the annual thermal wave, and to compute seasonal condensation mass. For historic
reasons (it originated in the era of kiloHz processors) the code has substantial optimization for speed. It allows sloped surfaces and two vertical zones of different materials. There are generalities that allow use with any
planet/satellite. All physical and orbital parameters can be modified, so that it can be used with any planet/satellite.
The code uses layer thickness increasing exponentially downward and time steps that increase by factors of two deeper into the subsurface where stability criteria are met. KRC now uses a one-layer energy-conserving Delta-Eddington atmosphere, which version has been used for analysis of THEMIS and MER Mini-TES results. A limitation is that surface properties are temperature-independent.
A ``one-point'' capability allows input of a set of points defined by season, latitude, hour and a few major physical parameters. The capability to model temperatures at the bottom of conical pits was added to study the potential volatile sublimation in freshly exposed trenches to be dug by the Phoenix mission.
See more from this Division: Topical Sessions
See more from this Session: Mineralogic and Petrologic Mapping of Planetary Surfaces: The G.K. Gilbert Award Session